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Office of the Provost

Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Award

Academic Year: 2023-2024

Nomination Deadline: March 15, 2024

Rathbun award nomination form

For many University of Toledo faculty members, professional engagement with one’s community is a frequent, productive and appreciated context in which to conduct, synthesize and integrate teaching, research and professional service. Rather than approaching community engagement as something in addition to regular academic responsibilities, faculty members worthy of this award recognize community engagement as an applied, effective and socially-valuable means of using their disciplinary knowledge to advance the human condition. To recognize these UT faculty members for excellence in their outreach and/or scholarly engagement efforts, Toledo resident Edith Rathbun has endowed the Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Fund.

Edith Rathbun

Edith Rathbun, a 1934 Scott High School graduate, worked for the Sun Oil Company as a secretary for 35 years. Her gift recognizes the value of acknowledging faculty for excellence in their professional engagement and for the positive impact their work has on student learning, research and the community.

The Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Fund will recognize faculty for exceptional community outreach and for excellence in community-engaged scholarship, whether in research, teaching or professional service.  Engaged scholarship, for this purpose, means that the research, teaching or professional service is:
• conducted in close partnership with community constituents,
• meets high academic standards, and
• that the outcomes are mutually beneficial to UT and the community.

Up to two annual recognition awards of $750 each.

Guidelines:

  1. Eligible outreach or engagement includes distinguished outreach and/or community-engaged academic activities using one’s professional expertise, such as:
    • designing and conducting community-based research,
    • developing and/or administering an exemplary community-engaged program or service initiative,
    • community-engaged teaching (such as service learning, specialized clinical initiatives, or field experiences), and
    • professional service (involving one’s professional knowledge).
  2. The content of the supporting statement is a highly important factor.
  3. Full-time faculty members in all University of Toledo colleges are eligible.
  4. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners.
  5. Nominations of a faculty project team may be made, and in the case of an award, it will be split among the project team members.
  6. The selection committee is comprised of faculty and staff members with particular commitment to engaged scholarship, including some past recipients.

For more information or questions contact cynthia.fisher@UToledo.edu

PAST Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Award Recipients

Last Updated: 7/15/24