Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer

HFM Criteria

Faculty Resources

The Honors Faculty Mentor Award is designed to honor the practice of mentoring undergraduate research and creative scholarship at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The award is intended to recognize demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers, to encourage mentoring relationships with undergraduate students, and to convey the campus's high regard for such contributions made by the faculty of the academic and research community.

This award is granted to faculty members who mentor undergraduates outside of the classroom, and who are committed to Honors-level undergraduate research which extends above and beyond the classroom experience.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

All faculty members, regardless of department, are eligible for nomination for the Honors Faculty Mentor Award, provided they are currently mentoring students who are completing—or have recently completed—their Departmental Honors projects and are set to graduate at the end of the fall or spring semester.

To be eligible, nominees must have completed at least five years of service at UNCW and have previously supervised at least two graduates of the University Honors or Departmental Honors program.

Nominations should include clear evidence that the faculty mentor has made a meaningful and lasting impact on advancing undergraduate research and creative scholarship.

Nomination Package

Only students who are completing—or have completed—their Departmental Honors project and are graduating at the end of the fall and/or spring semester are eligible to nominate a faculty mentor who meets the criteria outlined below.

Nomination Requirements:

  • Faculty Eligibility: Confirm that the faculty member has mentored at least two students through Departmental Honors projects. You may verify this by reviewing thesis projects in the UNCW library database or by contacting honors@uncw.edu.

  • Nominator and Nominee Information: Provide identifying details for both the student nominator and faculty nominee, including name, student/faculty ID number, and department.

  • Mentorship Description: Submit a statement (no more than two double-spaced pages) describing the mentorship experience. This should include:

    • A narrative from the student nominator detailing how the faculty member supported and guided their undergraduate research.

    • Specific activities and experiences completed under the mentor’s supervision.

    • Reflections on the mentor’s effectiveness and the overall impact on the student’s academic and creative development.

  • Faculty CV: Include a brief curriculum vita (CV) of the faculty nominee. Students must request this directly from the faculty member they wish to nominate.

  • Submission Details: Deadlines and submission form links will be shared via email with graduating seniors.