Faculty and Staff Awards

This award is to recognize an administrative staff member for excellence. 

Eligibility requirements

All full-time (75-100%) HRS staff members with at least one year of continuous service may be nominated for the award.

Staff members who are students within HRS programs or currently lecture within the school are NOT eligible.

Criteria

• Award recipients will be selected on the merits and strengths of the following contributions:
• Providing outstanding and ongoing excellence in services to faculty, staff, students and/or other customers in a way that supports the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences' mission.
• Enhancing the quality of work-life in ways that make a significant difference for faculty, staff, students and/or other customers.
• Developing creative solutions to problems that result in a manner that is significantly more effective and efficient operations for programs, divisions, and the school.

This award is to recognize a research staff member for excellence. 

Eligibility requirements

Eligible: Full-time HRS research associates or technicians with at least one year of continuous service in an HRS research position may be nominated for the award.

Graduate students are NOT eligible for this award.

Criteria

Award recipients will be selected on the merits and strengths of the following types of contributions:

• Providing outstanding and ongoing excellence within a research laboratory setting supporting the productivity, reputation, compliance and ethics of scholarly efforts in alignment with the mission of the
• School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
• Enhancing the scientific rigor, innovation and success of the lab, its faculty, staff and student members, and its collaborators.
• Developing creative solutions to problems that result in a manner that is significantly more effective and efficient for scientific and scholarly outcomes.

The Excellence in Mentoring Award was established to recognize the value of exceptional mentors and the impact these mentors have on HRS professional development and career advancement in the areas of scholarship, research, teaching, and clinical practice.

Eligibility requirements

All full-time (75-100% FTE) HRS staff members with at least one year of continuous service may be nominated for the award.

Staff members who are students within HRS programs or currently lecture within the school are NOT eligible.

Nominees must be full-time faculty in HRS or hold a joint appointment with at least 50% appointment in HRS. Awards will be given for early-career, mid-career, and late-stage career individuals as appropriate and based on nominations.

Criteria

Award recipients will be selected on the merits and strengths of the following contributions:

• A sustained commitment to the mentoring of students that results in consistent personal and professional development of the mentees.
• Maintaining high standards as a role model for mentees as an engaged and productive member of HRS and the university.
• Evidence of quality training for mentees and support for their academic and professional growth. This would include, but not be limited to, students establishing their own record of scholarly activities or performance, obtaining external fellowships and/or awards, preparing and delivering national presentations, peer-reviewed published work in high impact journals, and/or engaging in other professional development opportunities.
• Evidence of synergy with HRS priorities and activities. This includes, but is not limited to, interdisciplinary research, projects that demonstrate equitable leadership with collaborators, and projects that aim to build new or broaden existing partnerships.
• Demonstration of creating a supportive environment where students can grow and openly share challenges and successes.
• Evidence of providing a supportive environment that facilitates the development of best practices or performance metrics from individual students.
• Achieving a successful record of graduate degree completion among the students they have advised.

This award is to recognize a faculty member for their service activities at the divisional, school, college, and community (including state, national. and international) level. 

Eligibility requirements

Regular Faculty: Full time faculty including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, on Tenure Track or Clinical Track.

Assignment: all campuses

Associated Faculty, Guest Lecturers; clinical instructors who only instruct students in the clinical setting; graduate teaching associates; individuals who received the award within the past five years are NOT eligible for this award.

Criteria

Demonstrate excellence and impact through service.  Service may include participation and leadership at any level and a variety of positions and activities, all of which serve the function of impacting those around them. The ideal candidate for this award would be someone who routinely goes above and beyond with participation and leadership, has demonstrated contribution to local, regional, state, or national service, and whose service at any level has had a documentable impact on the quality of the Ohio State University.

The HRS Excellence in Teaching award recognizes HRS educators for their excellence in teaching annually. One award is given to faculty with regular appointments and one to associated faculty.

Eligibility requirements

Regular Faculty: Full-time faculty, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, on Tenure Track or Clinical Track.

Associated Faculty: Instructors, Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, and Assistant/Associate/Full Professors of Practice who have full responsibility for one or more courses or an ongoing commitment to teaching in the school through an MOU or contract.

Assignment: all campuses

Teaching History: In the past three years, have taught undergraduate and/or graduate/professional students.

Guest lecturers and others with very limited teaching and no ongoing responsibilities to students in the school; clinical instructors who only teach students in the clinical setting; graduate teaching associates; and individuals who received the award within the past five years are NOT eligible.

Criteria

Faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching as follows:  

• Sustained beneficial influence on their students.
• Using teaching methodologies in the classroom that enhance learning or other areas of the academic experience.
• Being accessible and available in and out of the classroom teaching experience, showing willingness to assist students with personal improvement efforts, responsiveness to requests, etc.
• Other markers of excellence as described in the nomination packet may be considered.

This award honors an individual who exemplifies the highest standards of teamwork and collegiality within HRS. The recipient consistently fosters a culture of mutual support, shared purpose and collective achievement across scholarship, research, teaching, clinical practice and administrative functions. 

Eligibility requirements

This award is open to all full-time HRS employees (At least 75% FTE) with at least three years of service in HRS.

Criteria

Award recipients will be selected on the merits and strengths of the following contributions:

• Sustained Commitment to Collaboration – Demonstrates continuous efforts to build inclusive, effective partnerships across teams, departments, offices or disciplines that advance the mission and values of HRS.
• Professional Integrity and Collegiality – Serves as an exemplary role model for respect, reliability and ethical conduct in all interactions.
• Outstanding and Impactful Contributions – Offers valuable input to group projects, initiatives or committees, resulting in significant outcomes such as publications, grants, program or resource development, or improvements in systems, processes or operations.
• Inclusive Team Environment – Cultivates spaces where diverse perspectives are welcomed and all members feel valued, heard and empowered to contribute.
• Effective Communication and Leadership – Facilitates transparency, encourages constructive conflict resolution and fosters shared leadership practices, all of which enhance team cohesion and productivity.
• Support for Professional Growth – Actively encourages and supports colleagues through resource-sharing, mentorship and engagement in peer development.
• Alignment with HRS Strategic Priorities – Advances interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, community partnerships or operational excellence through collaborative efforts.

This award will recognize the distinguished research of early-stage faculty based on meaningful scientific contributions to science that exceed the norms for HRS and/or peers in a similar rank. 

Eligibility requirements

Regular Faculty: Full-time faculty, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor, on Tenure Track or Clinical Track with at least 

Assignment: all campuses

Associated Faculty, Guest Lecturers; clinical instructors who only instruct students in the clinical setting; graduate teaching associates; individuals who received the award within the past five years are NOT eligible for this award.

Criteria

Demonstrate excellence and impact through service.  Service may include participation and leadership at any level and a variety of positions and activities, all of which serve the function of impacting those around them. The ideal candidate for this award would be someone who routinely goes above and beyond with participation and leadership, has demonstrated contribution to local, regional, state, or national service, and whose service at any level has had a documentable impact on the quality of The Ohio State University.

This award recognizes distinguished research and scholarly achievements by senior faculty, based on substantial and meaningful contributions to their field that exceed the norms for their rank and those of their peers. 

Eligibility requirements

Any Full-time faculty (75-100% FTE), including Associate and Full Professor, on Tenure or Clinical Track.

Any Associated Faculty, Guest Lecturers or clinical instructors who only instruct students in the clinical setting, graduate teaching associates, and individuals who received the award within the past five years are NOT eligible for this award.

Criteria

Award recipients will be selected on the merits and strengths of the following contributions:

Scholarly publications (articles, abstracts, case reports, book reviews, symposia proceedings, white papers).

• Approved grants and funded projects.
• Record of research presentations at national or international meetings.
• Ability to motivate and inspire students in their research activities.
• Contributions to scholarship through professional organizations.
• Impactful service or leadership roles related to research (e.g., grants panels, journal editorial boards).
• Engagement in fostering a scholarly environment within the school.

Other scholarly activities with a national or international impact.

Nominees are not required to have accomplishments in all categories. 

NOTE: The Senior Investigator Award may not be given every year.