The Hayfield Award for Research Excellence/Creative Accomplishment

This award is given to a Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty member who has made a significant contribution to his or her professional field. Such contribution might include publishing or presenting a research paper or literary or other creative work or significantly participating in professional activities. The award might also be given for a series of contributions around a coherent theme. Especially desirous are contributions that involve undergraduate students in meaningful ways or contributions the results of which are incorporated into teaching, thereby raising the quality of undergraduate education.

Eligibility

Full-time teaching staff and adjuncts who have been teaching at Penn State Wilkes-Barre for the past year may have their research or creative work recommended for the award. Research/creative work being recommended should have been done within the past three years.

Evaluation Criteria

Research projects are judged on the basis of originality and significance to the discipline. Criteria for evaluating include:

  1. Originality. The degree to which the research represents the development of novel and significant areas of knowledge. The degree to which the research represents the development of new knowledge in a creative manner and with independent insight.
  2. Experimental Practices. The degree to which the research involves developing innovative hypotheses or new and superior experimental methodologies.
  3. Presentation. The degree to which research results were presented to the disciplinary community with clarity through timely presentation at disciplinary meetings and by publication in high-quality journals.

Creative accomplishments are judged on the basis of originality and creativity. Criteria for evaluating include:

  1. Technical and artistic development as evidenced in the work (e.g., creative writing such as poetry, short story, drama, novel, dance, music score, performance, etc.)
  2. Evidence of risk, change and artistic stamina and evidence of different styles and modes of expression might be considered.
  3. Presentation—the way the creative work is shared with the public and disciplinary community through public performance, art show, or publication such as a novel, magazine or journal entries, short story, or poem.
  4. Connection of creative accomplishment to faculty’s teaching discipline and possible use as inspiration for undergraduates to share their own creative endeavors.

Nominations

In the left-hand menu you will find a link to the nomination form. Anyone may nominate eligible persons for the award. A nomination should be made to the respective Penn State Wilkes-Barre faculty disciplinary leader (i.e., program coordinator or college representative, as applicable). The faculty disciplinary leader then forwards the nomination, along with his/her endorsement, to the Chief Academic Officer. (Note: In cases where there are two coordinators, only one endorsement is necessary.) Nominations are reviewed by the Chief Academic Officer and the Associate Chief Academic Officer for selection of the award winner(s). The Associate Chief Academic Officer will recuse him/herself if either the nominator or nominee.