ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
AA
Central New Mexico Community College
Distinguished Faculty Award
Overview of Central New Mexico Community College Distinguished
Faculty Award
Purpose: Faculty are integral to Central New Mexico Community College’s (CNM)
mission to: create educational opportunities and community partnerships while
pursuing a level of community college excellence that is worthy of local and national
recognition. Recognition of and reward for distinguished faculty service are important
facets of the college’s strategy for promoting the mission, values, and goals
encompassed in the CNM Strategic Direction. The CNM Distinguished Faculty Award
is designed to reflect the critical role of faculty in upholding our mission.
Eligibility:
Each instructional school may select two faculty finalists (School
Distinguished Faculty): one full-time faculty member and one part-time faculty
member. In order to be eligible, a full-time faculty member must have successfully
completed CNM’s trial period (7 terms qualified teaching), and a part-time faculty
member must have achieved CNM veteran status (6 terms of experience at CNM).
Part-time faculty are eligible for nomination during a semester in which he/she is not
teaching. Faculty who have previously received the award are not eligible to apply
for a period of five years.
Award Criteria: Three criteria will be used to evaluate and rank the nomination, and
subsequent finalist, applications. A point system for evaluating the criteria will be
used to assist in ranking the applications.
The criteria are as follows:
 Excellence in Teaching and Learning—Nominee is recognized by students,
colleagues, and supervisor(s) as an excellent instructor of his/her content
through the use of best practices in teaching and learning, as well as ongoing
engagement in professional development activities (20 points possible).
 CNM Strategic Direction—Nominee has demonstrated a significant achievement
in one (or more) of the goals put forth in the CNM Strategic Direction (10 points
possible).
 College Service (Required for Full-time faculty)—Nominee has contributed
to CNM through his/her service by engaging in activities in one or more of the
following areas (10 points possible):
o Active participation in school and college activities (such as, but not
limited to, developing new curriculum or student recruitment).
o Collaboration with faculty and staff from other schools/departments to
promote communication, coordinate schedules, and support student
success.
Created 01/14: Revised 04/15
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Collaboration with high schools, universities, business and industry or
external agencies as appropriate, and assist with program advisory
committees as requested.
o Support collegiality by actively participating in the professional
development of new and veteran faculty (for example, mentoring, peer
observations).
o Serving on department, school, and college committees and task teams.
o Participating in and assisting with student activities and clubs.
Contribution to Department/Discipline (Required for Part-time faculty)—
Nominee has contributed to the growth/enrichment of his/her department.
o
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Process:

Eligible faculty may be nominated by any member of the college. Selfnominations will also be encouraged and accepted. Nomination forms should
be submitted via email to the Dean of their Academic School. Faculty will be
notified of the nomination and given the opportunity to complete the
application.

Nominees must submit the application to the Dean (or designee) of their
Academic School.

Supervisors will be contacted to provide a reference for nominees.

Each of the six schools in Academic Affairs will form a selection team composed
of faculty, staff, and administrator(s), and may also include students, to review
applications and determine the nominees they will be advancing as finalists for
the award. Each school may advance two finalists (School Distinguished
Faculty): one full-time faculty and one part-time faculty.

Applications of the finalists from each of the schools will be forwarded to the
Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), who will convene a selection team
composed of the VPAA, representatives from Faculty Senate, Chair Council,
previous year’s winner, and Student Government. One full-time faculty and one
part-time faculty will be selected among all finalists to receive the CNM
Distinguished Faculty Award.

All finalists will be invited to and recognized at the CNM Distinguished Faculty
Award event. It is at this event that the faculty receiving the CNM Distinguished
Faculty award will be announced.

Deans Council, Faculty Senate, and Chair Council may evaluate the award
process and benefits annually.
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Award Benefits



Each FT and PT faculty member from each school will receive a $200 award.
Each FT and PT faculty member from each school will receive a maximum of
$2500 for a professional development activity during the academic year.
The two finalist (1 PT and 1 FT) will each receive a $500 award
Timeline
The application and selection timeline is as follows:
Event
Begin
Faculty Nominations Accepted
4th week of spring
term
Nominated Faculty complete
7th week of spring
application
term
Forms Distributed
School selection committee
review process
School Distinguished Faculty
submitted to VPAA
VPAA forms CNM Distinguished
Faculty selection committee
Announcement of School and
CNM Distinguished Faculty
11th week of
spring term
Dinner with Distinguished Faculty
Fall Term
6th week of
summer term
Convocation (Fall)
End
6th week of
spring term
9th week of
spring term
10th week of
spring term
13th week of
spring term
14th week of
spring term
8th week of
summer term
Notes
Online form
Online Form
submitted to dean
Nomination forms
distributed to Schools
Forward selected
applications to VPAA
1 FT and 1 PT from
each School
One FT and one PT
from each School and
one FT and PT CNM
Distinguished Faculty
Distinguished Faculty,
Deans, VPs, President
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