Recognition

The Athanasius Kircher, S. J. Award for Excellence in Research is awarded annually to recognize up to three full-time faculty who elevate LUC’s reputation and external impact through their outstanding research, scholarship, and creative works. The award is name for Athanasius Kircher, S.J., an influential early modern Jesuit whose expansive curiosity and extensive publication record in disciplines ranging from biology and physics to cultural anthropology and theology earned him the moniker “Master of 100 Arts.”  

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be full-time Loyola faculty during the three-year review period (i.e., 2023-2026), including the academic year during which the award is received.  

• During the three-year review period (2023-2026), the applicant(s) must have at least one major research, scholarly, or creative achievement, such as an externally funded research grant, a published book, or an exhibit.   

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of external impact during the three-year review period (2023-2026), though that impact can be related to overall research agenda (e.g., research, scholarly, and creative contributions that date from before the three-year review period).   

Application Process 

• Applicants assemble the following application materials:  

• • Cover letter describing major research, scholarly, or creative achievement(s) during the three-year review period (2023-2026) and the observable external impact of their research, scholarship, and/or creative works during that same period.   

• • CV  

• • Digital copy of major research, scholarly, and/or creative achievement(s). Links to books or websites can suffice.   

• • Artifacts demonstrating external impacts (e.g., award announcement; press release; book review; event program; copy of published Op-ed; citation analytics). Combine artifacts into one pdf that is no more than 10 pages.  

• • Letter from peer outside of Loyola attesting to the quality of the submitted research, scholarly, or creative achievements and the applicant’s broader impact on the field or other targeted community.   

• Applicants submit materials through the application form by May 1.   

• Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Faculty Development’s Faculty Advisory Board and the Vice Provost for Research.  

• Applicants will be notified of decisions by June 15. 

Award 

• Up to three awards will be given each year to recognize the rich array of scholarly and disciplinary contexts across the University.  

• Awards may be given to individuals or small groups of collaborators (no more than three). 

• Each recipient will receive a $2,000 honorarium and medallion.   

• Recipients will be honored at University Convocation.  

• Each recipient will collaborate with the Center for Faculty Development to be featured in a University-wide event focused on research. 

 Questions? Reach out to Lauri Dietz (ldietz1@luc.edu). 

The Jerónimo Nadal, S. J. Award for Excellence in Teaching is awarded annually to recognize up to three full-time faculty who deliver on the promise of a Jesuit undergraduate and/or graduate education through high-quality teaching and mentoring in accordance with Ignatian pedagogical principles. This University award is named for Jerónimo Nadal, S. J., a close collaborator with and trusted representative of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who was instrumental in developing the theology behind Ignatian spirituality and founded Jesuit College, Messina, the first Jesuit college. 

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be full-time Loyola faculty who have taught for a minimum of five years at Loyola.  

Application Process 

• Applicants assemble the following application materials:  

• • Cover letter describing how they enact Ignatian pedagogical principles in their teaching and learning and their impact on student engagement and learning.     

• • CV   

• • Two annotated teaching artifacts from the past two years (e.g., syllabus, assignment/activity instructions, lecture slides) that highlight how Ignatian pedagogical principles are infused in the course and/or assignment design and delivery.    

• • Evidence of student learning and engagement (e.g., student artifacts, a collaborative online exhibit, instructor feedback and student revisions, aggregated pre- and post- test scores, excerpts from students’ reflective essays). Please omit identifying information with grades. Do not include Smartevals.   

• • A peer teaching observation, no more than 5 years old. Peer observations may be an existing artifact that was already part of their department's or school's process for evaluating teaching. Applicants can also opt for a peer write something now. It could be based on an in-class observation but does not have to be. The goal is for the person writing the teaching observation to have some firsthand experience with the applicant's current teaching—by reviewing syllabuses and assignments or by seeing artifacts of  students' work and faculty feedback or by attending a class session, for example.

• Applicants submit materials through the application form by May 1.   

• Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Faculty Development’s Faculty Advisory Board and the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.  

• Applicants will be notified of decisions by June 15. 

Award 

• Up to three awards will be given each year to recognize the rich array of teaching and disciplinary contexts across the University.  

• Awards are given to individuals. 

• Each recipient will receive a $2,000 honorarium and medallion.   

• Recipients will be honored at University Convocation.  

• Each recipient will collaborate with the Center for Faculty Development to be featured in a University-wide event focused on teaching or mentoring. 

 Questions? Reach out to Lauri Dietz (ldietz1@luc.edu). 

The Magis Excellence in Teaching is awarded annually to recognize up to three part-time faculty who deliver on the promise of a Jesuit education through high-quality teaching and mentoring in accordance with Ignatian pedagogical principles. This University award is named for the Jesuit tradition of “magis,” a Latin word that means “more” and represents our mission to strive for excellence.   

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be part-time Loyola faculty who have taught for a minimum of five consecutive years at Loyola.   

Application Process 

• Applicants assemble the following application materials:  

• • Cover letter describing how they enact Ignatian pedagogical principles in their teaching and learning and their impact on student engagement and learning.     

• • CV   

• • Two annotated teaching artifacts from the past two years (e.g., syllabus, assignment/activity instructions, lecture slides) that highlight how Ignatian pedagogical principles are infused in the course and/or assignment design and delivery.    

• • Evidence of student learning and engagement (e.g., student artifacts, a collaborative online exhibit, instructor feedback and student revisions, aggregated pre- and post- test scores, excerpts from students’ reflective essays). Please omit identifying information with grades. Do not include Smartevals.   

• • A peer teaching observation, no more than 5 years old. Peer observations may be an existing artifact that was already part of their department's or school's process for evaluating teaching. Applicants can also opt for a peer write something now. It could be based on an in-class observation but does not have to be. The goal is for the person writing the teaching observation to have some firsthand experience with the applicant's current teaching—by reviewing syllabuses and assignments or by seeing artifacts of  students' work and faculty feedback or by attending a class session, for example.

• Applicants submit materials through the application form by May 1.   

• Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Faculty Development’s Faculty Advisory Board and the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.  

• Applicants will be notified of decisions by June 15. 

Award 

• Up to three awards will be given each year to recognize the rich array of teaching and disciplinary contexts across the University.  

• Awards are given to individuals. 

• Each recipient will receive a $2,000 honorarium and medallion.   

• Recipients will be honored at University Convocation.  

• Each recipient will collaborate with the Center for Faculty Development to be featured in a University-wide event focused on teaching or mentoring. 

 Questions? Reach out to Lauri Dietz (ldietz1@luc.edu). 

The Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Faculty Award for Diversity Leadership will be awarded on an annual basis to a faculty member who demonstrates the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, research, and service to the LUC community.  This award is named in honor of Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who centered faith and justice and articulated the core Jesuit value of being a person for others.   

This commitment to justice for others may be demonstrated through efforts to recruit, retain, mentor, and support a diverse faculty and/or student body; to perform innovative research that enhances our understanding of diversity and/or highlights inequities and offers insights towards mitigating them; to participate in sustained committee or administrative service that has contributed to and/or advanced the University’s endeavors towards equity and inclusion; to develop department or campus programs that create inclusive environments for students, staff, and/or faculty; and other significant activities. Diversity is defined broadly, including multiple and intersecting identities (e.g., race, disability, economic background, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, nationality, religion). 

Eligibility 

• All full-time faculty members (TT and NTT) from all disciplines and campuses with a minimum of four (4) years of service at Loyola University Chicago are eligible to be nominated for the award. 

• Deans, Associate Deans, Vice Provosts, and Department Chairs are ineligible for this award. Self-nominations will not be considered.  

Nominations 

Candidates should be nominated based on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that exceed their assigned positions. Nominees should also demonstrate and support the Ignatian ideal of care for others as well as carry out Loyola’s mission and commitment to diversity and inclusion. This award recognizes excellence in all three areas of teaching, research, and service; please indicate these areas in your nomination. 

All faculty in the Loyola University Chicago community are welcome and encouraged to nominate one candidate using this nomination form.  

The deadline for nominations is April 10.  

Award 

• Nominees will be contacted for additional materials (a CV and a one-page statement). Nominees must submit these materials by May 1. 

• The recipient will be selected by the READI Coaches in the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

• The recipient will receive a $2,000 honorarium and plaque.   

• The recipient will be honored at University Convocation. 

 Questions? Reach out to Juilia Elsky (jelsky@luc.edu), Associate Director of Faculty Affairs. 

The Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring  is awarded annually to recognize a full-time faculty member who demonstrates a commitment to advising and mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students in and outside the classroom. Exemplary faculty are involved in helping students discover their passions and develop a dedication to life-long learning, as well as guiding students' intellectual, personal, social, and spiritual growth.  This University award is named for Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, who embodied Cura Personalis and seeing God in all things through her enduring commitment to bring compassion, joy, and faith to the LUC community. 

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be full-time Loyola faculty who have advised and mentored undergraduate or graduate students for a minimum of five years at Loyola.   

Application Process 

• Applicants assemble the following application materials:  

• • Cover letter describing how they enact Cura Personalis in their mentoring and advising to foster connection with their students and enhance their learning experience.    

• •  CV  

• • Two annotated mentoring or advising artifacts or examples from the past two years that highlight how Cura Personalis principles are infused in their approach to mentoring and advising. Evidence should demonstrate the applicant’s approach to mentoring and advising. Please omit students’ identifying information.  

• • Evidence of student success, growth, and development from mentoring and advising (e.g., student artifacts, thank you notes, pictures, survey results). Please omit students’ identifying information. Do not include Smartevals.   

• •  A letter of endorsement from a colleague or former student.   

• Applicants submit materials through the application form by May 1.   

• Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Faculty Development’s Faculty Advisory Board and the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.  

• Applicants will be notified of decisions by June 15. 

Award 

• One award will be given each year. 

• Awards are given to individuals. 

• Each recipient will receive a $2,000 honorarium and medallion.   

• Recipients will be honored at University Convocation.  

• Each recipient will collaborate with the Center for Faculty Development to be featured in a University-wide event focused on teaching or mentoring. 

Questions? Reach out to Lauri Dietz (ldietz1@luc.edu). 

Santa Clara University welcomes applications from university faculty, instructional staff, and sustainability staff for their online summer workshops incorporating sustainability, environmental justice, and integral ecology into the curriculum.

Approach: Each workshop involves eight hours of work over one week, including a live orientation on Zoom, optional office hours, and self-paced learning and online discussions.

To encourage participation by the Loyola community, the Center for Faculty Development is offering up to five (5) scholarship grants. Once a Loyola instructor receives acceptance from Santa Clara University, they may submit for a scholarship grant. Details on how to apply on the Center for Faculty Development website. Any Loyola faculty or instructional staff receiving this support are asked to present their experience during a Focus on Teaching and Learning conference session on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

Topics: Three workshops are available in summer of 2026. Full description here.

• Sustainability across the Curriculum | June 22-26. An introductory workshop for newcomers to this material or those in need of a refresher.
• Environmental Justice and Integral Ecology | July 6-10. An intermediate-level workshop for people who have some experience with the material and want to deepen their conceptual understanding of environmental justice/integral ecology. 
• Pedagogy for Sustainability and Justice | July 20-24.  An intermediate-level workshop for people who have some experience with the material and want to develop their teaching methods. 

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be part- or full-time Loyola faculty who will teach the course developed through the workshop at LUC.   

Application Process 

• Applicants submit the following materials after receiving an acceptance from Santa Clara University:

• • Copy of application to Santa Clara University for a Curriculum Development Workshop in Sustainability and Justice.
  • Copy of the acceptance from Santa Clara University.

• Applicants submit materials through the application form by May 15.   

• Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Faculty Development’s Faculty Advisory Board.  

• Applicants will be notified of decisions by May 22. 

Award 

• Up to five awards will be given. 

• Awards are given to individuals. 

• The Center for Faculty Development will register grant recipients directly.   

• Recipients will facilitate a session on their experiences participating in the Santa Clara University workshops at the August Focus on Teaching and Learning conference.. 

Questions? Reach out to Lauri Dietz (ldietz1@luc.edu).