{"id":9249,"date":"2023-08-25T09:02:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T14:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/news\/?p=9249"},"modified":"2023-08-25T09:02:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T14:02:08","slug":"nicholls-state-presents-10-awards-at-fall-2023-university-convocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nicholls.edu\/news\/2023\/08\/25\/nicholls-state-presents-10-awards-at-fall-2023-university-convocation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholls State Presents 10 Awards at Fall 2023 University Convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"

THIBODAUX, La. \u2013 Nicholls State University presented 10 awards to its faculty and staff during its fall 2023 University Convocation on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The event featured opening remarks by Vice Provost Dr. Todd Keller and President Jay Clune, PhD, regarding Nicholls\u2019 75th anniversary and the slate of events for the year-long celebration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During his university update, Dr. Clune informed faculty and staff that the university\u2019s strategic plan that many of them gave input on was approved by the ULS Board of Supervisors, and its implementation will begin soon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always refreshing to welcome everyone back for the fall semester, refreshed and ready to help change the lives of our students,\u201d said Dr. Clune. \u201cConvocation is always a great opportunity to bring everyone together and recognize some of our top-notch faculty.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During the ceremony, Dr. Uttam Pokharel, associate professor of chemistry, was awarded the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence, an award that goes to an individual who embodies a personal philosophy and practice of teaching, both inside and outside the classroom, focused on student engagement and learning. Nominations are received from students, alumni, peers, department heads and deans and screened by a University-wide committee, with one name recommended to the President. The recipient is awarded a one-time cash award of $1,000, followed by an annualized $1,000 stipend beginning the next academic year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the continued generosity of <\/span>Regions Bank<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Office of Academic Affairs<\/span><\/a> can support the Academic Affairs Awards for Teaching Excellence. Recipients receive a one-time stipend of $500. Deans and department heads were asked to nominate faculty from their areas who have met the following criteria: five years of consecutive teaching and service, five consecutive years of outstanding student evaluations and five years of outstanding administrative evaluations. The awardees for the Academic Affairs Award for Teaching Excellence are:<\/span><\/p>\n