I am pleased to announce the third annual Chancellor's Awards for Community Engagement at Rutgers-Newark. These awards recognize the contributions of individuals or groups to our urban mission. The past two years we presented awards to members of our campus community who demonstrated exemplary leadership in connecting the campus with the community. We also recognized an external community agency which has partnered with Rutgers-Newark in unique ways. This fall, we will again recognize those who have contributed so much to our engagement with Newark and the region.

Nominations are now being accepted for the following awards:

Award for Community Engagement in Undergraduate Teaching and Learning
made to a full-time or part-time faculty member or TA for exemplary use of the resources of the surrounding community in teaching and learning. Activities appropriate for this award include community-based experiential or service-learning, student research experiences in the community, internships, and other learning activities that engage students with the city of Newark or surrounding jurisdictions. Nominations will be judged on the originality and quality of the student learning experience.

Award for Community Research
made to a faculty member, postdoctoral fellow or graduate student for research on any aspect of Newark and/or northern New Jersey. Nominations will be judged on the scholarly quality and significance of the research.

Student Community Service Award
made to a student organization or individual student for outstanding volunteer service in Newark or other communities in the vicinity of the campus. Nominations will be judged on the importance, extent and impact of the volunteer service.

Faculty/Staff Community Service Award
made to a faculty or staff member for outstanding volunteer service in Newark or other communities in the vicinity of the campus. Nominations will be judged on the importance, extent and impact of the volunteer service. Although research on Newark or adjacent communities is a form of service, nominations involving research should be submitted for the Award for Community Research (see above) rather than for this award.

Academic Program/Unit Award
made to any academic department, program, center, institute or office for exemplary teaching, research or service activities that engage with the external community. Nominations will be judged on the importance, extent and impact of service, the scholarly quality and significance of research, or the originality and quality of the student learning experience, whichever applies.

Community Partner Award
made to a non-profit community organization or a government agency for exceptional collaboration with faculty, students and/or staff of Rutgers-Newark.

Nominations, including self-nominations, are welcome from any member of the university community. Nominations should include a detailed statement of activities undertaken by the nominee relevant to the award criteria. Nominations of individuals should include the individual's curriculum vitae or resume. Supporting letters from individuals inside and/or outside the university will also be helpful. Updates of nominations submitted but not selected last year are definitely encouraged.

Please submit all nominations (electronically if possible) to the Office of the Chancellor no later than Friday, October 16, 2009 to the attention of Janice Friedland: jafried@newark.rutgers.edu.

Winners will be recognized at a campus reception scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2009.