The Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize, reward and encourage excellence in the work of faculty, staff and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. There are 15 award categories, and unless otherwise indicated, one recipient will be selected in each category.

Jump to: Eligibility Guidelines | Nomination Process | Categories| Selection Process & Award Presentation | Past Award Winners

To nominate or self-nominate (which is encouraged), please use the appropriate nomination for the desired category, located in the College’s InfoReady system. Any faculty, staff and student from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences can submit nominations. Nominators are encouraged to coordinate with departmental awards committee to avoid duplicate nominations of the same nominee. There is no limit for the number of nominations that can be submitted from a unit.

The guidelines for the 2025 awards may be found HERE.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award, nominees must have:

• Some portion of their appointment with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or significant responsibilities or duties to the College on campus
• Been employed in the College for at least 2 years (except for student awards)
• Not received the award (for the same category) in the last 5 years

Nominees will be sent to AgriLife Human Resources and agency CEOs to ensure good standing.

Nomination Process

To nominate or self-nominate (which is encouraged), please use the nomination form for the appropriate category on the COALS InfoReady opportunities page by Friday, May 30, 2025.  In the nomination form:

1. Provide information to be responsive to the specific rubric items
2. Upload a CV that is no more than 5 pages long and emphasizes information relevant to the award category
3. A team (typically no more than 5 members) can also be nominated when appropriate.  Attach an additional document (no more than 2 pages), defining the purpose and primary objective(s) of the team and provide a summary of the team’s accomplishments and the impact of the team’s work
4. No letter of support is required or to be included in the nomination. 

Categories

(Click on a title to expand and show a description; nominations should be submitted in the appropriate category on the COALS InfoReady Site)

Teaching Awards

Early Career Teaching

• This award recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching for individuals within five years of the start of their first faculty position (at any institution). Successful nominees will exhibit outstanding performance in teaching and student mentoring, as evidenced by peer reviews, student satisfaction, and student outcomes. They demonstrate excellence in teaching innovations, scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or contribution to educational development and reform. In addition, effective performance in other area(s) of their faculty appointment (research and/or service) is also expected.
• Submit nominations for this category HERE

Graduate Teaching

• This award recognizes and encourages excellence in graduate student teaching. Successful nominees will exhibit an exceptional command of their subject area, unique and innovative teaching methodologies, outstanding student motivation and inspiration as well as a sense of caring and mentoring for their students.
• Graduate teaching award nominees must have taught on at least a ½ time basis for two semesters or summer sessions (10 weeks) during his/her graduate enrollment at Texas A&M University or must be completing the second semester of teaching at the time of nomination.
• The nominee must be a full-time student (9 hours minimum), classified as a graduate assistant or 50% lecturer/instructor with teaching responsibilities and have independent authority to assign grades for courses or laboratory sections.
• Submit nominations for this category HERE

Teaching (Tenured/Tenure-Track)

• This award recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching (T/TT). Successful nominees will exhibit outstanding performance in teaching and student mentoring, as evidenced by peer reviews, student satisfaction, and student outcomes. They demonstrate excellence in teaching innovations, scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or contribution to educational development and reform. In addition, effective performance in other area(s) of their faculty appointment (research and/or service) is also expected.
• Submit nominations for this category HERE

Teaching (APT)

• This award recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching (APT). Successful nominees will exhibit outstanding performance in teaching and student mentoring, as evidenced by peer reviews, student satisfaction, and student outcomes. They demonstrate excellence in teaching innovations, scholarship of teaching and learning, and/or contribution to educational development and reform. In addition, effective performance in other area(s) of their faculty appointment (research and/or service) is also expected.
• Submit nominations for this category HERE

Educational Enrichment and Innovation

• This award recognizes excellence for college faculty and staff who demonstrate exceptional dedication and effectiveness in providing high impact student experiences and/or are exceptionally innovative in their approach to student learning, in or out of the classroom. Successful nominees will be actively involved in the creation and/or implementation of exceptional educational experiences such as study abroad, internships, unique classroom experiences, service learning or other activities that significantly impact student engagement, reflection and growth.
• Submit nominations for this category HERE

Research Awards

Undergraduate Research

• This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate student research. Successful nominees must demonstrate substantial involvement in major research project or conduct independent research with faculty members. The award is limited to research completed while an undergraduate student in a major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Graduate Research

• This award recognizes excellence in graduate student research. The award is limited to research completed while a student in a graduate program at Texas A&M University in a major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Successful nominees will demonstrate exceptional research advancing knowledge in the broad fields of agriculture, natural resources and life sciences.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Early Career Research

• This award recognizes excellence in research for individuals within five years of the start of their first faculty position (at any institution). Successful nominees are expected to demonstrate independence in scholarship, demonstrate meaningful and nationally recognized impact in their field of research (which could include scholarship of teaching and learning) and be recognized as leaders in their field of study, or be on a strong and sustained trajectory to attain national leadership status. In addition, effective performance in other areas of their faculty appointment (teaching and/or service) is also expected.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Research (2 awards)

• This award recognizes excellence in research which includes scholarship of all forms, including the scholarship of teaching and learning. Successful nominees will be recognized leaders nationally or internationally who demonstrate impact that has advanced their fields. In addition, effective performance in other areas of their faculty appointment (teaching and/or service) is also expected.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Additional Awards

Other Awards

Administration

• This award recognizes excellence in administration. Successful nominees will have substantially enhanced the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ overall mission and goals through their administrative vision. Excellence in development of faculty and staff, unique or innovative approaches to obtaining resources, building morale, educational achievements or other areas that accomplish the objectives of the College. Examples of eligible titles for this award include department head, assistant or associate department head, and assistant or associate dean.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Faculty Mentoring

• This award recognizes excellence in faculty mentoring. Successful nominees are those faculty members who provide exceptional support and guidance to developing other faculty, effectively foster supportive relationships that encourage faculty to create their vision and network for achievement and demonstrate significant impact of their mentoring of new faculty, underrepresented faculty, faculty who enter academe from non-academe, and/or others.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

International Impact

• This award recognizes and encourages excellence in international impact and involvement. Successful nominees are those faculty or staff who excelled in international research, education, or outreach activities which have had significant international impacts.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Staff Excellence (3 Awards)

• This award recognizes excellence of administrative and professional staff in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Successful nominees are staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication, competence, innovation and willingness to go “above and beyond” expected job duties. Other criteria may include a commitment to the core mission of the college, demonstrated leadership, outstanding communication and cooperation, an ability to improve college processes or programs and a desire to enhance the reputation of the College.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Service

• This award recognizes excellence in service or other outreach related activities by faculty or staff. Successful nominees will exemplify the Aggie core value of Selfless Service and exhibit exceptional engagement and significant impact in service to the academic unit and university, the profession, and/or the society.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Student Relations

• This award recognizes excellence in those faculty or staff who support undergraduate and/or graduate students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Successful nominees are those who demonstrate outstanding care for the professional and personal development of students and strong interest and exceptional support of student physical and mental well-being. Other criteria may include selfless service and strong interpersonal communications skills to support student success.
• Submit nominations for this award HERE

Selection Process & Award Presentation

The COALS Awards Committee will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Dean. The award recipients will be recognized in a ceremony in the Fall. Recipients will receive a framed certificate and a monetary award of $500 for individuals and up to $2,000 for a team award (up to $500 per member).

Past Award Recipients