Terms of Reference | Awards and Honours | Memorial University of Newfoundland

The John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship

Please note that the 2025 deadline for this award competition is October 31st at 5:00pm.

The John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship, named for the first president of Memorial University College, recognizes faculty who embody the university's mission by demonstrating “innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, academic service, and public engagement”. The award is comprised of the lifetime designation "Distinguished University Professor" and a one-time unrestricted grant ($20,000) to support future teaching and learning, research, public engagement, and/or service activities at Memorial University.

Memorial has identified Indigenization and equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism (EDI-AR) as a priority. We value different experiences, ideas, and perspectives that may lead to the most innovative solutions to the problems our world is facing. We acknowledge that Memorial has a responsibility to the community that it serves and a commitment to contribute to the advancement of Indigenization and EDI-AR in teaching and learning, research, public engagement, and service.

Terms of Reference and Conditions

(a) Memorial University of Newfoundland shall establish the John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professor award.

(b) This title will recognize faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the combined areas of teaching and learning; research, scholarship and/or creative activity; public engagement; and service. The individual selected for this award will have an exemplary record in all four areas having gone consistently beyond what is normally expected of a faculty member to ensure that Memorial accomplishes its overall mission:

Memorial University is an inclusive community dedicated to creativity, innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, public engagement, and,service. We recognize our special obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Memorial welcomes students and scholars from all over the world and contributes knowledge and shares expertise locally, nationally, and internationally.

(c) Designation of the title of Distinguished University Professor shall be limited to those academic staff members (ASMs) at the rank of full Professor. In considering possible nominations, care should be given to the time interval since promotion to full professor. It is essential that nominees have sufficient time to acquire a superior and sustained record of performance at that level. Vice-Presidents and Deans are not eligible for nomination during their administrative terms. Retired faculty members are not eligible for this distinction. Those ASMs who resign following their nomination or during the adjudication process are also not eligible for this honour. However, a faculty member who chooses to retire following his nomination to the John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship, but remains active within the Memorial University community, is deemed eligible. It is the responsibility of the nominator to contact the Office of the Vice-President (Research) to report any changes to the nominee’s eligibility.

(d) Candidates will be assessed on the merit of contributions made during their employment at Memorial University. All nominees will be expected to have a sustained and consistent record of excellence in teaching and learning, research and/or creative activity, public engagement, and service

(e) Only one award will be offered annually. There shall be no obligation to recommend an award in the absence of suitably qualified and nominated candidates.

(f) The award carries with it the lifetime designation of Distinguished University Professor and a one-time unrestricted grant. The latter is to be used at the discretion of the recipient to support future teaching, research, public engagement, and/or service activities at Memorial University.

(g) Nominations may be made by any full-time faculty or staff member of the University and shall be co-sponsored by the candidate’s Dean and three other persons (two (2) internal and one (1) external) who are fully knowledgeable of the candidate's qualifications. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

(h) Nominations should be submitted to the Office of the Vice-President (Research) no later than October 31st.

(i) A selection committee, normally composed of six members representing faculty and staff, and including representation from all genders, shall be established and chaired by the Vice-President (Research) or designate. The mandate of this committee is to review nominations and to make a recommendation to the President for final approval. If the President does not agree with the selection committee’s evaluation, and wishes to override their decision and the award process, the President or the Vice-President (Research) will meet with the committee members to apprise them of their assessment.

(j) All nominees and nominators will be contacted by the President or Vice-President (Research) regarding the results of the award competition.

Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated on the quality, innovation, and impact of their accomplishments within the areas of teaching and learning; research, scholarship and/or creative activity; public engagement; and service. The narratives that accompany the evidence should tell a clear and compelling story about how the nominee has shown exceptional performance in each of these areas.

Indicators of outstanding performance that may be considered include:

Evidence of scholarly dissemination (e.g., books, book chapters, journal articles, conference papers, conference proceedings, invited and plenary lectures, juried art shows, invited performances of artistic works, invited leadership performances, music and writing competitions).
High ratings of the publications and other research or creative work as attested, where appropriate, by citations indices, by references in published literature, or in letters from distinguished scholars or critics in the field.
Non-refereed contributions including book reviews, research reports, policy papers, public lectures. This category may also include creative outputs (e.g., exhibitions of candidates’ work, curated exhibits, film, video, audio recordings and websites).
Other contributions to research and the advancement of knowledge to non-academic audiences (e.g., general public, policy-makers, private sector and/or not-for-profit organizations), service to national/international agencies, external examination of theses and dissertations, and editorship roles for publications.
Published reviews of the publications or creative works, media and content expertise requests and coverage.
Awards for outstanding research (e.g., from professional associations).
Funding from external grants awarded as a result of peer review by national and international funding bodies with your role in securing the funding specified.
Evidence of research and creative leadership (e.g., team achievements, editorships, invitations to deliver keynotes, conference and workshop organization, board membership, membership on national/international committees or juries for funding and/or awards and honours).
Research impacts (e.g., creative or scientific advancement), to the economy (e.g., new companies, products and procedures), to people (e.g., skills), and to society (e.g., quality of life, improved health, policy development).
Evidence-based approaches undertaken to support student learning, strengthen the student educational experience, and allow students to develop the knowledge, skills and values needed to contribute and succeed in their community and career.
Contributions to training undergraduate, master and doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and community-based research assistants and staff relevant to the candidate’s supervisory environment. Consideration will be given for those disciplines that do not have graduate degree programs at Memorial.
A strong reputation both nationally and internationally for contributions to the areas of teaching and learning, research and/or creative activity, public engagement, and service.
Leadership, as evidenced by achievements and/or differences made as a result of their teaching, research and/or creative activity, public engagement, and service.
Exceptional teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level including a superior ability to: effectively communicate subject matter; fully engage and inspire students; create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students; evaluate and improve one’s teaching; and transform educational experiences to enhance student learning and success.
Evidence of effective supervision including the training and graduating of graduate students and other highly qualified personnel.
A strong record of mentorship of new faculty.
Collaboration between people and groups at the university with people and groups outside the university that further Memorial’s academic mission.
Publicly engaged research, scholarship and/or creative activity which advances knowledge creation and benefits external individual and/or groups.
Publicly engaged teaching and learning, enabling Memorial students to participate in, and benefit from, collaborations with external individuals and groups.
Leadership in advancing the scholarship and/or practise of public engagement at Memorial and/or beyond.
Service related to their disciplinary expertise including, but not limited to, contributions to professional organizations and associations, learned societies, and disciplinary associations, and community service where the individual has made a contribution by virtue of special academic competence.
A demonstrated commitment to contributing to or/and enhancing the quality of life for individuals from equity deserving groups within your work. Please note that a member of an equity deserving group includes those that identify as disabled, black, racialized, indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and women.

Documents

As mentioned above, the narratives that accompany the nomination materials should tell a clear and compelling story about how the nominee has shown exceptional performance in the areas of teaching and learning, research and/or creative activity, public engagement, and service.

Nominations for a John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorship should consist of the following documents:

(1) A completed JLP Nomination Form.

(2) A letter from the nominator detailing the exceptional nature of the nominee's contributions and the significance of those contributions to teaching and learning, research, public engagement, and service. This letter should include specific examples regarding the quality and impact of the candidate’s work. This should be no more than 3-pages in length.

(3) A letter of support (no more than 2-pages) from the candidate’s Dean that addresses the following:

the reason for supporting this nomination; and,
the nominee’s contributions to teaching and learning, research, public engagement, and service. Please note any impact this work has had to the discipline or community.

(4) A one-page description of how the nominee incorporates Indigenization and equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in their work (examples may include but are not limited to conducted research, work within the classroom or laboratory, engagement within the community, service with equity-deserving groups).

(5) A list of the most significant contributions that the candidate has made during their career in the areas of teaching and learning, research, public engagement, and service, and their significance. This should be no more than 2 pages in length.

(6) A maximum of three (3) selected works reflecting the nominee’s contributions to teaching, research, public engagement, and service. Works can be provided virtually/e-materials or hardcopy, which will be returned at the end of the adjudication process.

(7) Letters of support for the candidate’s contributions to research from two (2) external referees, one (1) national and one (1) international, at the rank of full professor. Reference letters should be a maximum of three pages in length and should address the following:

the referee’s direct and personal knowledge of the candidate and his or her work;
the originality, significance and impact of the candidate’s career;
the national and international reputation of the candidate; and,
other relevant information that indicates the substantial contributions made by the candidate.

(8) One letter of support written by a former undergraduate student, graduate student or a highly qualified person is required. The letter must provide concrete evidence of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and/or leadership from the perspective of the writer. This account should come from personal experience and provide a detailed description of the influence the candidate has had on learning and/or professional growth. This letter should be no longer than 3-pages in length.

(9) One letter of support which addresses the exceptionality and significance as well as the scope, time-commitment and impact of the nominee's contributions to public engagement. The two-way nature of public engagement means that as the candidate contributes their expertise, knowledge and resources to public opportunities and needs, the university is also enriched and advanced by the perspectives, knowledge and experience gained through provincial, national and/or international collaboration. The letter must show the collaboration between the candidate to national and international organizations and indicate how the relationship furthers both Memorial’s academic mission and the priorities of our public and community partners. These contributions must be beyond what might normally be considered academic or professional service, and must have had a significant impact upon those organizations or on the communities. The letter should not exceed 3-pages.

(11) One letter of support that indicates the referee’s first-hand knowledge of the sustained pattern of exceptional voluntary contributions made by the candidate to service. These contributions must be beyond what might normally be considered academic or professional service. The letter should not exceed 3-pages.

(12) Relevant documentation in the public domain (including media reports) that offers additional evidence of the significance of the nominee's contributions be provided. These materials are not to exceed five pages.

(13) A curriculum vitae using Memorial's online template

Please note that it is the responsibility of the nominator to inform those providing a letter of support that the nominee may read their letter and that quotes from the letter may be used in promotional material or in citations for the award recipient.

Access to Information and Protection of Privacy

The information on this form is collected under the authority of the Memorial University Act (RSNL 1990 Chapter M-7) and is needed for and will be used to assess the nomination or application for John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professorships. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information contact the office of Awards and Honours at 709-864-3104.

Updated September 3, 2025