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Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

From the Provost's Desk

New University Outstanding Scholars Awards

February 29, 2024

Dear Colleagues, 

Our Next-Gen K-State strategic plan calls on us to find new ways to recognize and reward outstanding faculty and staff, including working with colleges to expand how faculty contributions are acknowledged. With this in mind, as part of the One K-State strategic funding initiative announced last fall, President Linton announced that a University Faculty Scholars program would be launched this year to recognize outstanding mid-career faculty. Today, I am delighted to announce a new faculty award rewarding faculty excellence.

The University Outstanding Scholars Awards are designed to recognize outstanding tenured faculty members who are on an accelerated path for continued academic distinction.

In addition to being named a University Outstanding Scholar, each awardee will receive a $10,000 base salary increase. Eligible faculty hold the rank of tenured associate or full professor and have been in that rank for no more than five years at the time of designation. Faculty from every school or college are eligible. Deans of colleges or schools must submit nominations to the provost at provounivawards@k-state.edu by April 15. Up to 10 faculty will be selected each year. Awards will be announced in May, and appointments will begin July of each year.

I have long known that Kansas State University has exceptional faculty, and I am pleased that we are adding this award to others like the Coffman Chair for University Distinguished Teaching Scholars, and of course, our University Distinguished Professors. Faculty teaching, research, service and engagement are at the heart of K-State, and the new University Outstanding Scholar Awards will help identify and recognize our wide-ranging talent at the mid-career level and provide more recognition of superlative faculty.

Sincerely,

Debbie Mercer
Interim provost and executive vice president

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