Creative Activity Initiative Award

This award shall be given to recognize faculty members who have initiated promising creative productivity early in their academic careers. Creative contributions shall include, but not be limited to, the following: painting, sculpture, film, drama, musical composition, choreography of a dance, poetry, a novel, creative non-fiction, creative media programming.

Award amount: $500

College deans submit nominations and completed application materials to AVP for Research by the close of the working day on October 1, 2021.

Announcement of awards date is to be determined.

View Award Winners

Criteria for Eligibility

1. Nominees must be Illinois State University tenure-track faculty members who have completed five years or less in a tenure-track position at any institution of higher education. For example, an individual may have completed three years at another institution and be eligible within their first two years at Illinois State University. Individuals with unusual career paths may be considered if they are within their first five years as an Illinois State University faculty member; the College Dean must provide written justification for nominating individuals in this situation.
   
   
2. Nominees must currently be involved in creative expression and must show promise of making a significant contribution to their discipline(s).
   
   
3. Members of the University Research Council are ineligible during their terms of service. Previous recipients of the award are ineligible.
   
   
4. Individuals may not be nominated for both the University Outstanding Creative Activity Award and the Research Initiative Award simultaneously.
   
   
5. Individuals may not be nominated for the Creative Activity Initiative Award and the Research Initiative Award simultaneously.

Procedures for Submission of Nominations

1. Eligible faculty members may ask to be considered for nomination by the College Research Committee; they may be nominated by any faculty member or department chair/school director in the College; or they may be nominated by the College Research Committee. Application materials are provided to each College Dean for distribution to applicants in the College. Applications are submitted to the College.
   
   
2. The Dean of the College, in conjunction with the College Research Committee, may submit to the University Research Council up to five individuals from among the nominees.
   
   
3. These College nominees must seek a minimum of three solicited letters in support of their applications, including one letter from the School Director or Departmental Chairperson.
   External letters of support are welcomed, but not required. (see guidelines below)
   
   
4. The College Dean shall submit the completed applications to the Associate Vice President for Research. Requirements for a completed application are listed below. The College nominees should be unranked.
   
   
5. The final evaluation of applications will be made by the University Research Council. During deliberation, the Council may request supporting materials from nominees and/or may ask the College Deans for additional information.
   
   
6. The final evaluation of applications will be made by the University Research Council. During deliberation, the Council may request supporting materials from nominees and/or may ask the College Deans for additional information.

The University Research Council will recommend to the Provost up to four recipients from the list of nominees forwarded to the Council by the College Deans.

Portfolio Preparation

1. Cover sheet form
   
   
2. Letters of Support (3)
1. Each nomination letter must indicate the involvement and quality of the candidate’s creative activity in such a way as to clarify the nominee’s activities for individuals from other disciplines;
   
   
2. Letters must address the candidate’s promise of making a contribution to their field of study based upon their previous and current work.
   
   
3. External letters of support are welcomed, but not required.
3. A Full-Career CV
   
   
4. Statement from Nominee summarizing his/her creative activities and contributions, goals for current creative endeavors, and the contributions that the nominee’s creative activity objectives will make to their field of study. The statement should be written at a level appropriate for peers outside the discipline. (1 to 1½ pages single-spaced)
   
   
5. No more than three representative pieces of work or products of creative expression (e.g., music CD, written materials, scores, art slides, videotape/DVD, audiotape, work of fiction or non-fiction, piece of artwork, etc.). Please bear in mind that materials are most helpful when they are manageable in scope.

Criteria for Evaluation

1. A nominee's record of creative activity for the first five years following receipt of their terminal degree at any institution of higher education will be reviewed for potential contributions to their profession. Individuals with unusual career paths, whose nomination has been justified by the College Dean, will be evaluated on their work performed in their first five years at Illinois State University.
   
   
2. A nominee's record of research and publication while at Illinois State University will be given the greatest weight in the Council's deliberations, although a full career curriculum vitae for each nominee will be evaluated.
   
   
3. Letters of Support/Endorsement

Distribution of Award

1. The award of $500 is to be used for any expenditure allowable within University budgetary guidelines with the exception of faculty salary.
   
   
2. The awards are for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
   
   
3. The recipient must inform the Provost's office of how the funds are to be encumbered by February 1 of the academic year in which the award was announced or the award will be made from the equipment line.