ARC Mentorship Excellence Award

2026 Award Overview

The Mentorship Excellence Award honors a faculty or staff member from the University of West Alabama (UWA) and our co-hosting universities—Alcorn State University and Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University of Fez—whose exceptional guidance has made a meaningful impact on student learning, research development, and career preparation through participation in the Academic Research Conference (ARC).

This award recognizes mentors who foster student success through encouragement, inclusivity, and practical support that extend beyond the classroom.

Eligibility

Nominees must:

1. Be a faculty or staff member at one of the host institutions (tenure-track, non-tenure-track, or adjunct).
2. Have mentored at least one student presenter (poster, paper, creative/performance, or applied/community project) accepted to ARC 2026.
3. Be nominated by a student who is presenting at ARC 2026 or who presented under the mentor at the ARC 2025.
4. Have provided mentorship, including idea development, feedback on drafts, rehearsal support, or presentation preparation.
5. Have not received the award within the last three years.

Recognition

The recipient will receive:

1. Engraved plaque presented during ARC 2026.
2. Feature article on available news outlets and ARC website (with photo and student quotes).
3. Digital badge for use on faculty profile or email signature.
4. Professional development support, up to $500.

• Funds may be used for professional development–related expenses such as travel, books, workshops, or student project support.
• This is a reimbursable award, not a direct cash payment.
• All expenditures must be pre-approved by the ARC Committee and comply with UWA purchasing and reimbursement policies.

Nomination Process

Only students may submit nominations. Each nomination must include either a written or a video submission.

Written Nomination (Single PDF, 2–3 pages total)

Required components:

1. Nomination Form:
   • Submit application materials using the form below.
     • Student name, major/program, and contact information
     • Nominee’s name, title, department, and email
     • ARC presentation title and year
2. Student Nomination Statement (250–400 words):
   Describe in your own words:
   • How your mentor supported your research or creative project (e.g., regular meetings, feedback, deadlines, or guidance).
   • How your mentor fostered a welcoming, fair, and inclusive learning environment (e.g., openness to ideas, equitable access to opportunities, clear communication).
   • How this mentorship contributed to your personal and academic growth (e.g., skill development, confidence, awards, ARC acceptance, internships, or graduate preparation).
3. Outcomes Snapshot (optional, 1 page max):
   A short bullet list of key outcomes or highlights (acceptances, awards, internships, or service projects).

Video Nomination (2–3 Minutes, MP4 or MOV)

Required elements:

1. Introduce yourself (name, major, ARC project title).
2. Describe 1–2 specific ways your mentor supported you and fostered a welcoming, fair, and inclusive learning environment.
3. Explain how this mentorship contributed to your personal and academic growth.
4. Conclude with why your mentor deserves the award.

Technical requirements:

• Captioning required (automatic captions acceptable if reviewed).
• May include one slides or callouts (no grades or sensitive data).
• Anyone appearing in the video must provide consent.
• File name: ARC2026_MentorNom_<NomineeLast>_<NominatorLast>.mp4

Additional Details

Evaluation Criteria (100 Points Total)

Category	Description	Points
Student Growth and Impact	The mentor helped the student develop confidence, research skills, and professional or academic goals (e.g., ARC acceptance, internships, awards, or personal growth).	40
Inclusive and Supportive Mentorship	The mentor created a fair, welcoming, and respectful learning environment that encouraged participation and valued all student voices.	25
Quality of Mentoring Practices	The mentor provided consistent guidance, constructive feedback, and practical help during project development and presentation preparation.	25
Overall Reflection and Professionalism	The mentor demonstrates dedication to continual improvement, student development, and alignment with ARC’s mission.	10

Selection Process

• Committee: 5–7 members (ARC leadership plus 1–2 student representatives).
• Members must recuse themselves when nominees are from their own department, lab, or collaborations.
• Independent scoring → calibration meeting → consensus.
• External reviewers may be appointed to ensure fairness if recusals reduce the quorum.

Timeline

Stage	Date
Nominations open	October 20, 2025
Submission deadline	February 27, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
Review period	March 1–15, 2026
Recipient notification	By March 22, 2026
Award presentation	During ARC (April 7–9, 2026)

Submission: Online form (upload PDF or video file).

Contact:
For any questions, please contact the ARC Committee at arc@uwa.edu.