Faculty Awards

Joyce Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Established in 2007, the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching honors faculty members who have had a profound influence on
undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching at Notre Dame. In particular, the Joyce award recognizes faculty who:

  • Create environments that stimulate significant student learning
  • Elevate students to a new level of intellectual engagement
  • Foster students’ ability to express themselves effectively within the discipline

Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising

Established in 2007 through a gift from the Julia Stearns Dockweiler Charitable Foundation, the Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising annually
recognizes approximately three members of the full-time faculty or exempt staff who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to Notre Dame undergraduates through
outstanding mentoring, academic advising or career counseling services.

Grenville Clark Award

Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., was one of three recipients of the Grenville Clark Prize, an award given every three years by the Grenville Clark Fund at Dartmouth College. Father Hesburgh donated the Clark stipend to the Notre Dame endowment to underwrite a cash prize to be awarded each year. This award is made to a faculty member, administrator, or student whose voluntary activities serve to advance the causes of peace and human rights to which Grenville Clark devoted his extraordinary life of public service. All members of the Notre Dame community are invited to submit recommendations for this award.

Faculty Award

Established in the 1927–28 academic year by the Alumni Association, the Faculty Award singles out that faculty member who, in the opinion of his or her colleagues, has contributed outstanding services to the University. Nominations are received from the faculty at large and a committee of former Faculty Award winners makes the final selection.

The Father John (Pop) Farley, C.S.C., Award

The Pop Farley Award, named after Rev. John Farley, C.S.C., rector of Sorin Hall from 1930 to 1937, was established in September 1976 by Father Hesburgh as an annual prize in the area of Student Affairs. The stipend is awarded to honor a person distinguished outside the classroom in matters pertaining to the religious, disciplinary, social, recreational, and physical welfare of the students of the University of Notre Dame.

The James A. Burns, C.S.C., Graduate School Award

The James A. Burns, C.S.C., Graduate School Award is given annually to a faculty member for distinction in graduate teaching or other exemplary contributions to graduate education. Contributions can be in any or all of the following areas: building or developing a graduate program, teaching quality graduate courses, excellence as an adviser or thesis director, and excellence in service as a director of graduate studies or in any other similar position. Nominations are requested from individual faculty and from students in the Graduate School.

Thomas P. Madden Award

This award honors the memory of a former English professor who was one of Notre Dame’s greatest teachers. It is presented annually to that member of the faculty who, in the opinion of a committee of former Madden Award winners, contributed most to the teaching of first-year students. Nominations are submitted by first-year students and first-year counselors.

Reinhold Niebuhr Award

Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., and Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany were the first recipients of the Reinhold Niebuhr awards sponsored by friends of the Protestant theologian and author. Receiving this award in September 1972, at ceremonies at Union Theological Seminary in New York, Father Hesburgh announced the establishment of a Reinhold Niebuhr Award at the University of Notre Dame. This award is made annually to a student, faculty member, or administrator whose life and writings promote or exemplify the area of social justice in modern life. All members of the Notre Dame community are invited to submit recommendations for this award.

Rev. Paul J. Foik, C.S.C., Award

This award, named after the Holy Cross priest who served as director of Notre Dame’s library from 1912 to 1924, is annually given to a library faculty member who has contributed significantly to library service to the Notre Dame community or to the library profession through personal scholarship or involvement in professional associations. Nominations for the award are solicited from the entire University community.

William A. Toohey, C.S.C., Award

This award was established in 1980 to honor the memory of a Holy Cross priest who served as director of Campus Ministry. It is granted annually to the member of the Notre Dame community whose preaching or writing emphasizes the social justice dimension of the gospel in an exemplary way.

Special Presidential Awards

These awards are given to members of the faculty and/or the administration for distinguished service to the University over an extended period of time. The presentation of a citation and a stipend are made to the recipients. Nominations are received from the faculty at large.

25-Year and 50-Year Service Recognition

This recognition is given to those who serve as members of the regular faculty or as academic administrators and have 25 or 50 years of continuous service at Notre Dame. The years may be a combination of service as (a) regular faculty, (b) academic administrator, and© permanent staff. Years on approved leaves of absence are counted. Time spent in visiting, adjunct, and postdoctoral positions is not counted, nor is time as a research associate or student.

Rev. Charles E. Sheedy, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Teaching

The Sheedy Award, named after a former dean of the College of Arts and Letters, includes a $10,000 honorarium provided by an anonymous donor. This award is limited to faculty within the College of Arts and Letters and is presented to a member of this group for excellence in teaching.

Father James L. Shilts/Doris and Gene Leonard Teaching Award in the College of Science

This award, named for a now-deceased outstanding teacher in the Department of Physics, Rev. James L. Shilts, C.S.C., was endowed in 1984 by the Leonard family. A cash award and certificate are awarded annually to a faculty member of the College of Science who is selected by a committee of former awardees for his or her overall excellence in teaching.

Research Achievement Award

This award, incorporated in 2001, honors a distinguished faculty member who has made significant contributions to scholarship in his/her discipline and to the research and graduate education goals of the University.
Mendoza College of Business Awards

BP Outstanding Undergraduate Professor Award

This award consists of an honorarium and an engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business faculty who have taught the graduating senior class are eligible, and the recipient is selected by a vote of the Mendoza College seniors.

MBA Outstanding Teacher Award

This award consists of an honorarium and an engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business faculty who taught the class of graduating MBAs are eligible, and the recipient is selected by a vote of the graduating MBAs.
Arnie Ludwig Outstanding EMBA South Bend Teacher Award

This award consists of an honorarium and an engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business faculty who taught in the South Bend Program class of graduating Executive MBAs are eligible, and the recipient is selected by a vote of the graduating Executive MBAs.

Chicago Program EMBA Outstanding Teacher Award

This award consists of an honorarium and engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business faculty who taught in the Chicago program class of graduating Executive MBAs are eligible, and the recipient is selected by a vote of the graduating Executive MBAs.
MNA Program Outstanding Teacher Award

This award consists of an honorarium and an engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business faculty who taught the graduating MNA students are eligible.The recipient is selected by a vote of the graduating MNA students.

MS in Accountancy Outstanding Teacher Award

This award consists of an honorarium and an engraved plaque. All Mendoza College of Business accountancy faculty who taught the graduating MS in Accountancy students are eligible. The recipient is selected by a vote of the graduating MS in Accountancy students.

Engineering Teaching Award

The College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award was established in 1977 to celebrate 100 years of engineering at Notre Dame. Bestowed on an engineering faculty member who is selected by a committee of fellow faculty and students for excellence in teaching, the award includes a $2,000 honorarium and an engraved plaque.