Merrick Foundation Teaching Award

The Merrick Foundation Teaching Award was established in 1976 by the Merrick Foundation of Ardmore to recognize the faculty member who is considered most outstanding in bringing to students a better understanding and appreciation of the economic and political basis of American society.

Each awardee will receive a one-time award of a $2,500 and a framed certificate.

Nominations are due to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost by November 16, 2020 through the Faculty Awards and Honors Packets Dropbox.

The Merrick Teaching Award shall be given to the faculty member who is considered most outstanding in bringing to students a better understanding and appreciation of the economic and political basis of American society. The citation given shall contain the following wording: "In recognition of outstanding achievement in bringing students a better understanding and appreciation of the American free enterprise system.” It is conceived primarily as a teaching award; however, the Council also may consider a nominee's research, publications, and public service.

Initiation

The Senior Vice President and Provost of Norman campus will solicit recommendations for the award by September 15 of each year and announce appropriate schedules for processing the nominations. Furthermore, the solicitations will be posted on the appropriate campus website.

Recommendations

Nominations may derive from department chairs or unit directors, elected members of departmental/unit Committee A, a departments/unit's approved nomination committee, Center leaders, or a group of faculty who are familiar with the nominee's qualifications for the award. Only one nomination by an academic unit or other nominating group of faculty is allowed. The nominating entity will be responsible for assembling the nomination packets including supporting documentation.

Nominations shall be forwarded to the respective dean for review and endorsement. An optional letter from the dean, if included, will focus on evaluatory comments regarding the quality and significance of the nominee's impact on the broader OU mission. The dean's letter will not count towards the 25-page limit outlined below. The dean will forward the nomination materials to the respective Senior Vice President and Provost by November 1. 

Supporting Documentation

Nomination packets must include the following, not to exceed 25 pages combined. Substantiating data should relate directly to the individual’s teaching effectiveness at the undergraduate level:

• A letter of nomination, not to exceed three single-spaced pages;
• A customized vita containing the relevant information pertaining to the accomplishments and criteria cited for the award;
• A short biography (about 100 words) highlighting the nominee's most significant accomplishments, and written for a general audience.

In addition, the nomination packet must also include letters of support. No more than five letters should be included. Additional letters will be removed. Letters may come from current or former students, student organizations, faculty colleagues, alumni, department chairs, members of Committee A, or others familiar with evaluating the individual’s effectiveness with regard to the award's criteria. These letters of support will not count toward the 25-page limit.    

The following sequence should be followed. Begin page numbering with the letter of nomination.

1. Faculty Awards and Honors Cover Page
   
   
2. One-page index that identifies the following materials:
   
   
3. Letter of nomination
   
   
4. A short biography (about 100 words)
   
   
5. Curriculum vitae (customized) 
   
   
6. Up to five letters of support (not including the Dean's letter)
   
   
7. Dean's letter (optional)

Submission

All materials listed above should be submitted as a single combined PDF from the appropriate Dean's Office to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost via the Faculty Awards and Honors Packets Dropbox.

Review

The University Council on Faculty Awards and Honors shall consider only the formal nominations. The Council may seek additional data about the nominees from supplemental sources, as appropriate. The Council shall forward to the Senior Vice President and Provost its recommendation(s). The Council also shall transmit all substantiating materials pertaining to all nominees.

Selection

The Senior Vice President and Provost will review the nomination materials and the Council’s recommendation(s), and will forward their recommendation(s) by February 1, along with all nominations and all substantiating material pertaining to all nominees, to the President.

The final selection will be announced for Norman Campus at the annual Faculty Award Ceremony.

Each award winner will receive a one-time award of $2,500 and a framed certificate.  

This award is hosted by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. For questions about this award, please contact Grey Allman.