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Alumni of the Year
The outstanding alumni award was first given in 1975 to seven recipients. The National Alumni board of Directors Nomination Committee felt that this type of award should honor University of Detroit Alumni who have in many ways distinguished themselves in their chosen field of endeavor and who through their career have brought recognition and honor to the University of Detroit.
Selection Criteria:
- The recipient must be an alumnus of the University of Detroit but does not have to have been an active participant in University activities or the Alumni Association.
- The recipient must demonstrate a high level of achievement and be a distinguished member of his/her chosen career field.
- The recipient should be a prominent figure whose career achievements are recognizable at the local, state or national level.
- The recipient must be active and working in his/her chosen career field.
- There will be one recipient chose each year.
- Future nominations for this award may be solicited from the general membership of the Alumni Association.
Distinguished Alumnus
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
Recipients of the Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award must be graduates of the University who:
Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
- Have distinguished themselves in their chosen profession, thus bringing honor to the University
- May or may not have been involved in University activities.
Distinguished Faculty Award
The individual chosen for this prestigious award is honored by faculty colleagues as the most outstanding faculty member that year within the University of Detroit Mercy. This individual is considered to be an asset both to his/her School or College and to the University, and demonstrates excellence as a teacher and scholar. Although an individual's lifetime achievements will be evaluated during the nomination process, a faculty member's activities during the past five years will be primarily considered in determining the final selection.
Criteria for Nomination:
- Excellence as a faculty member reflected by teaching and scholarly activity.
- Exemplar of the Mission and Purposes of the University of Detroit Mercy.
- Recognition and respect of faculty colleagues within the institution and within the discipline.
- Record of distinctive service to the University, the profession and/or greater community.
- Seven or more years as a full-time faculty member and the rank of associate or full professor.
Distinguished Professor
The title of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon a faculty member who has distinguished herself or himself through exceptional contributions to teaching, scholarship, and service. The title may be coupled with the specification of the professor's academic area and/or with the name of the person in whose honor the Distinguished Professorship has been created. Only those individuals who have achieved the rank of Professor are eligible.
Selection Criteria:
The title of Distinguished Professor is bestowed upon a faculty member who exhibits outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service in support of the University mission. Individuals selected to serve as Distinguished Professors will have demonstrated exceptional scholarly or creative work and instructional leadership. The following may be considered as evidence of distinction.
- Demonstration of outstanding teaching, which may include peer recognition of pedagogical excellence and innovation.
- A record of meritorious service to the University, the academic profession and/or the local community.
- Extensive publication in scholarly and/or other peer reviewed venues.
- National recognition established through an extensive body of creative work.
- Peer and professional recognition of scholarship or service through the bestowal of awards and/or grants.
- Frequent citation of scholarly work by others in the discipline or related fields.
- Noteworthy service to a professional organization or publication.
- A record of mentoring emerging faculty or scholars at UDM or elsewhere.
- Outstanding public service clearly aligned with and emanating from a professional base of knowledge.
Faculty Achievement Award
The individual chosen for this award is honored by faculty colleagues as demonstrating distinctive merit and achievement as a junior faculty member with promise of becoming an outstanding faculty member as evidenced by teaching and scholarly endeavors.
Criteria for Nomination:
- Merit and achievement in teaching and scholarly activities.
- Exemplar of the Mission and Purpose of University of Detroit Mercy.
- Recognition and respect of faculty colleagues.
- Record of significant service to the University.
- A minimum of three years and maximum of seven years as a full-time faculty member.
Faculty Excellence Award
The individual chosen for this prestigious award is honored by faculty colleagues as the most outstanding faculty member that year within the University of Detroit Mercy. This individual is considered to be an asset both to his/her School or College and to the University, and demonstrates excellence as a teacher and scholar. Although an individual's lifetime achievements will be evaluated during the nomination process, a faculty member's activities during the past five years will be primarily considered in determining the final selection.
Criteria for Nomination:
- Excellence as a faculty member reflected by teaching and scholarly activity.
- Exemplar of the Mission and Purposes of the University of Detroit Mercy.
- Recognition and respect of faculty colleagues within the institution and within the discipline.
- Record of distinctive service to the University, the profession and/or greater community.
- Seven or more years as a full-time faculty member and the rank of associate or full professor.
Founder's Award
Recipients of the Founder's Award may or may not be graduates of the University who have met some or all of the following criteria:
- Demonstrated involvement/leadership within their communities.
- Displayed compassion for and commitment to their fellow human beings as they reach out to assist and improve the condition of humanity.
- Helped others or have influenced society's response to a particular concern.
- Distinguished him/herself through achievements in their particular field of endeavor.
Honorary Alumnus Award
Selection Criteria:
- Presented to an individual who is not an alumnus/a of the University of Detroit.
- Has made significant and outstanding contributions of time, effort or resources to the activities of the Alumni Association or to the University and Alumni sponsored or supported activities.
- The contributions must be discriminately above and beyond the "call of duty" to quality.
Honorary Degrees
Honorary Degree of Mechanical Engineer
Honorary Doctor of Engineering
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Honorary Master of Commercial Science
Honorary Master of Engineering
McNichols Distinguished Achievement Award
The McNichols Award has been designed to serve the purpose of recognizing individuals, both alumni and non-alumni, who have distinguished themselves by their achievements in their particular fields of endeavor. Since the McNichols Award is presented in the name of the University of Detroit, recipients of the award may be designated only by the President of the University. Recipients may be nominated for consideration by the President by any individual or agency within or outside the University Community. The University Relations Office and the board of Director of the Alumni Association will serve as major sources for nominations.
The criteria for selection of recipients of the McNichols Distinguished Achievement Award are:
The award may be presented upon any suitable occasion so deemed by the university President.
McNichols Distinguished Achievement Award
- Appropriateness of public recognition of the individual;
- Notable achievement by the individual in his/her chosen field; and
- Availability of the individual to receive the award in person upon a suitable occasion.
Mercy College of Detroit Distinguished Alumni Award Criteria
Nominations are accepted from alumni, faculty members, administrative staff, and trustees for the Distinguished Alumni Award. Minimum criteria include:
A committee of alumni, faculty and administrative staff will review all nominations submitted and they will have the responsibility of designating the recipient(s), who will:
Alumni Community Service Award: For specific and meritorious service to the community, state or nation.
Alumni College Service Award: For sustained leadership and service to Mercy College of Detroit.
Young Alumni Award: For significant accomplishments or outstanding service by an alumnus 35 or under.
Outstanding Senior Award: For a graduating senior chosen on the basis of academic excellence, outstanding leadership and active involvement in student, College and volunteer activities.
Mercy Medallion
Professors Emeriti
The Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award
Alumni Nomination Criteria:
The Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award
Tower Award
- Must be a graduate of Mercy College of Detroit.
- Must have excelled in or achieved special distinction in a significant field of endeavor such as:
- Church affiliated organizations
- Civic Affairs
- Home Manager
- Professional Field
- Professional organizations and affiliations
- Volunteer Services
- Must be present to accept the award.
a. Be honored as the Distinguished Alumni
b. Receive an inscribed certificate
c. Have his/her name included on a special College plaque
d. Give the Benediction at the Reunion
e. Receive a complimentary ticket to the Reunion.
The Works of Mercy Dinner where the Mercy Medallion was presented provided an opportunity for Mercy College of Detroit to recognize and thank those honored for their service to the people of Detroit and Michigan through their own personal works of Mercy.
The College focused on traditional and contemporary works of mercy that have value for us all and recognized the individuals who have made them a part of their lives.
- Traditional works of mercy include feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and impoverished and educating the unlearned.
- Today, works of mercy are those which improved the condition of humanity such as:
- developing and contributing to programs which address health, educational, cultural or environmental concerns
- furthering the progress of a community
- fostering justice and peace
- addressing the critical problems associated with substance abuse and caring for our citizens, particularly our youth and our elderly.
Professor / Dean / Senior Librarian Emeritus is a rank conferred upon a retired full-time faculty member, dean, or librarian by the President of the University. To be eligible a faculty member, librarian, or dean must have
- Retired with the rank of Professor or Senior Librarian
- Provided distinguished citizenship to the University community through teaching for college/school faculty and delivery of reference or technical services for Senior Librarians, scholarship, and service or academic unit leadership, fiscal responsibility, and service for Deans.
- Nominee should be a respected member of his/her chosen profession (active or retired).
- Nominee shall have recognized professional accomplishments.
- Nominee should be engaged at UDM or with another civic/community organization.
- Nominee must be available to receive the award in person.
- Nominee shall not have received any University or School/College award in the last five years.
Selection Criteria:
- Must be an alumnus/a of the university either graduate or honorary.
- Has made significant contribution to the activities of the Alumni Association and the University which merit recognition in order to serve as an example to their fellow alumni members.
- Alumni who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career field or in non-alumni activities must be recognized in some other fashion or award.