Tips for Preparing Distinguished Professor Dossiers: Awards and Honors: Office of University Ceremonies: Indiana University

Tips for Preparing Distinguished Professor Dossiers

Dos

Carefully read criteria for award in question and speak to those criteria in the nomination.

Be clear about major claims; remember excellence implies in-depth work that has made a discernible difference, not merely doing many things.

Make clear the honors received beyond IU and Indiana, the nature of the leadership exerted within the field nationally, international regard for work, and support of work through peer-reviewed grants received.

If the importance of an honor received is not obvious, explain the meaning of the award so those outside the field can appreciate its significance.

Discuss link between research conducted and any consequent use of research in setting of public policy or shaping of practice.

Mention if the nominee’s students have achieved recognition regionally or nationally in the same or related area.

Provide a summary statement regarding the expertise of those writing letters of support, so those evaluating the dossier have a good sense of how stellar those speaking on behalf of the nominee are.

Make sure the accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) is up to date, but not “padded” (e.g., mentioning same thing in two different places).

Obtain letters of support from major figures in the field at top-ranked institutions nationally and internationally. These letters need to articulate the importance of the work rather than restate the “facts” in CV.

Letters from colleagues in related disciplines are important too.Letters help if they make clear that the distinction to be honored is important to more than one field.

Provide supportive materials, e.g., citations when previously honored and/or reviews of work.

Attend to presentation of materials and organization of portfolio, so the dossier looks orderly and substantive.

Note how excellence of work has led to leadership positions in the field, e.g., president of a professional society.

Don’ts

Don’t have someone who works under the person provide a letter of recommendation.

Don’t rely on someone with whom the person has extensively published to serve as the major spokesperson for person’s excellence.

Don’t rely on university service to indicate academic/research quality.

Good reviews of books are not by themselves enough to signify distinction.

Quantity is not enough; it’s the meaning of the work that matters.