Award of Distinction

This award was created by the Senate All-University Honors Committee and approved by the Board of Regents. This award recognizes people who have attained distinction in their field, profession, and/or public or volunteer service and who are not or have not been a student or employee at the University of Minnesota.
The Award of Distinction is parallel to the Outstanding Achievement Award with the following distinction:
-it recognizes public or volunteer service, and
-alumni or former members of faculty, staff, and Board of Regents, are not eligible.
Awards of Distinction are not awarded to encourage or reward financial contributions to the University.

Nomination Deadline

Recommend at least 6 months before the award is to be presented.

September 18, 2009
November 13, 2009
January 22, 2010
March 12, 2010
April 23, 2010

Who is eligible?

The nominee cannot be or have been a member of the faculty, staff, Board of Regents, or an alumnus or alumna of the University.

The nominator must be an alumnus or alumna of the University or a current member of the faculty, staff, or student body.

Selection Criteria

Please see nomination procedure.

Selection Process

Nomination Procedure

Letter from nominator -- should focus on personal knowledge of the nominee's distinction in their field, profession, and/or public or volunteer service.

Dean, Chancellor or Vice President Support -- As appropriate (indicated by the cover letter to the nomination.)

Nomination Summary -- 50 words or less, restricted to outlining the nominee's accomplishments.

Outstanding Accomplishments -- one page summary highlighting the individual's accomplishments.

Biographical Information -- to include nominee's address, telephone/fax number, date of birth, education, employment, professional and public and/or volunteer service.

Supporting Letters -- three ideally from both from the nominee's peers inside and outside the University; again, these are in addition to the letter from the nominator and should focus on personal knowledge as outlined above.

Number of Copies -- 30 of each item, collated, stapled and clipped (no binders and folders).

Board of Regents policy requires that no disclosure is to be made to the nominee, or persons other than those writing supporting letters, until a decision is forthcoming on the nomination.

Submit nominations, including contact information, to

Honors committee of the appropriate college, if one exists, and if not, to the All-University Honors Committee, c/o Vickie Courtney, University Senate, 427 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455.

For additional information about this award go to: http://www1.umn.edu/usenate/alluhonors/distinct.html

Previous recipients of this award.