UH AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
IN RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP

The University of Houston is pleased to announce the Awards for Excellence in Research and Scholarship Program for 2009-2010. Separate awards of $5,000 each will be made to six faculty- two each at the Assistant, Associate, and Full professor level.

Awards at the Full Professor rank are for those who have compiled a substantial continuing record of outstanding research, scholarship, or creative activities.  Nominees for this award must have achieved pre-eminence in their field.  At the time of nomination, an individual must have at least five (5) years service at the University of Houston.

Awards at the Associate Professor rank is for those who have established a growing record of outstanding research, scholarship, or creative contributions, and who are at the point of emerging leadership in their field.  At the time of nomination, individuals must have at least three (3) years service at the University of Houston.

Awards at the Assistant Professor rank is for those who have demonstrated great potential in research, scholarship, or creative endeavors by virtue of the exceptional quality of their early contributions.

Nominations should be limited to those individuals who are clearly exceptional.  An individual can receive an award only once at each faculty rank.  We trust that these awards, although limited in number, will provide visibility and appreciation for the excellent research, scholarship, or creative activity present throughout the University.

Nominators must be faculty members at the University of Houston and may make not more than one nomination at each rank.  The format for the nominations is available on Division of Research web site www.research.uh.edu click on Toolbox, then click internal grants.

Nominations must be submitted electronically to mmanry@uh.edu by Friday, January 29, 2010.

Early Career Faculty Satisfaction Survey
COACHE - the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education

Tenure-track faculty (who have been at UH at least one year but not more than six years) are invited to participate in an early career faculty satisfaction survey.  The survey research is part of a national program called COACHE - the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education - based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The survey is co-supported by the UH University Commission on Women and Division of Faculty Affairs.  The survey provides tenure-track faculty the opportunity to rate how UH is supporting them in a variety of areas (tenure support, development opportunities, work-life balance, climate), all issues important as UH continues on its Tier I pursuit.  The COACHE survey is an opportunity to share attitudes concerning this support, and is an important step in ensuring the University Houston provides a stimulating environment in which early career faculty can and will succeed.

The survey is completely confidential and will be handled through the COACHE project team.  COACHE will publish only aggregate results in which individuals and institutions cannot be identified, and will not use any name or email address for any purpose except this study.

Tenure-track faculty received the survey approximately 3 weeks ago, and will receive a reminder message early next week.  Please encourage your tenure-track faculty to participate in this very important survey.  Questions?  Please contact Holly M. Hutchins, Ph.D.

The Strategic Action Group committees have been working to determine the steps the University of Houston could take in achieving goals related to:

• National Competitiveness
• Student Success
• Community Advancement
• Athletic Competiveness
• Local, National, and Worldwide Recognition
• Resource Competitiveness

The Strategic Action Group members are:

• Richard Alderman
• Sandy Coltharp
• Sam Dike
• Lynn Maher
• Joe Pratt
• Richard Scamell
• Earl Smith
• Dan Wells
• Richard Willson

Beginning this semester, a new policy on dropping courses will go into effect. This policy establishes a 6-'W' grades limit for all undergraduate students.

The six 'W' grades may be used at any time during a student's undergraduate career at UH to drop a course up through the last day to drop a course or withdraw from all courses deadline. This deadline falls approximately four weeks before the last class day of the fall and spring semesters.

The 'W' may be granted upon the student's written request by the deadline, regardless of whether or not the student is passing the course. Once the 6 'W's have been used however, the student must complete all courses he or she is enrolled in regardless of academic performance.

This new policy is in alignment with standards now in effect at peer institutions to the University of Houston.

For further information, see the policy and FAQs at