North Dakota State University

The Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and University Microfilms International (UMI) are pleased to announce the 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award competition. Each member institution may submit one nomination for the award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

This award recognizes distinguished scholarly achievement at the master’s level. Nominations will be accepted in any of the above-listed disciplines in which the institution offers a master’s degree. The scholarly “product” eligible for this competition is a formal written thesis. If a nominating department offers both a thesis option and a project option, only the thesis is acceptable for consideration for this award. Each submission requires a written nomination by the Dean of the Graduate School (College) or equivalent office. The internal institutional selection processes are the responsibility of the endorsing official.

GUIDELINES FOR THE 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI DISTINGUISHED MASTER’S THESIS AWARD:

1. A nominee must have earned the master’s degree within the period of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Nomination materials should be assembled in the following order and submitted electronically as one PDF file:
   
   a. A written nomination letter from the Graduate Dean cited in the Eligibility Requirements above. The letter should describe the process that was used to select the thesis for nomination.
   b. A non-technical summary prepared by the student (1000-1500 words) describing the research and its significance for a general academic audience of non-specialists.
   c. A letter from the department head or major professor and one additional faculty member. The letters should include information regarding the significance of the thesis, the contribution of the thesis to the program of the degree granting unit, and the impact of the thesis on the knowledge base of the discipline.
   d. A cv or resume from the student nominee
2. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically in a single PDF file titled: LastNameofRecipient_AbbreviatedNameof Institution_WAGSDistThesisAward_2013-2014. Nominations are due September 3, 2013 and should be sent to Linda La Grange .
3. Initial screening will be based upon four criteria:
   
   a. Originality
   b. Significance of the study
   c. Overall quality
   d. Outcomes and accomplishments from the thesis
4. Finalists will be asked to provide three complete copies of the thesis.

The 2013-2014 award consists of a certificate of award, $1000 to the recipient, and travel expenses for the student and the student’s adviser to receive the award at the annual meeting of the Association.

The Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and University Microfilms International (UMI) are pleased to announce the 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award competition. Each member institution may submit one nomination for the award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

This award recognizes distinguished scholarly achievement at the master’s level. Nominations will be accepted in any of the above-listed disciplines in which the institution offers a master’s degree. The scholarly “product” eligible for this competition is a formal written thesis. If a nominating department offers both a thesis option and a project option, only the thesis is acceptable for consideration for this award. Each submission requires a written nomination by the Dean of the Graduate School (College) or equivalent office. The internal institutional selection processes are the responsibility of the endorsing official.

GUIDELINES FOR THE 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI DISTINGUISHED MASTER’S THESIS AWARD:

1. A nominee must have earned the master’s degree within the period of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Nomination materials should be assembled in the following order and submitted electronically as one PDF file:
   
   a. A written nomination letter from the Graduate Dean cited in the Eligibility Requirements above. The letter should describe the process that was used to select the thesis for nomination.
   b. A non-technical summary prepared by the student (1000-1500 words) describing the research and its significance for a general academic audience of non-specialists.
   c. A letter from the department head or major professor and one additional faculty member. The letters should include information regarding the significance of the thesis, the contribution of the thesis to the program of the degree granting unit, and the impact of the thesis on the knowledge base of the discipline.
   d. A cv or resume from the student nominee
2. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically in a single PDF file titled: LastNameofRecipient_AbbreviatedNameof Institution_WAGSDistThesisAward_2013-2014. Nominations are due September 3, 2013 and should be sent to Linda La Grange .
3. Initial screening will be based upon four criteria:
   
   a. Originality
   b. Significance of the study
   c. Overall quality
   d. Outcomes and accomplishments from the thesis
4. Finalists will be asked to provide three complete copies of the thesis.

The 2013-2014 award consists of a certificate of award, $1000 to the recipient, and travel expenses for the student and the student’s adviser to receive the award at the annual meeting of the Association.

The Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and University Microfilms International (UMI) are pleased to announce the 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI Innovation in Technology award. This $1,500 award may be given either to a master’s thesis or to a doctoral dissertation and is intended to recognize the innovative application of technology to scholarship. Each member institution may submit one nomination for this award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

This award may be given either to a master’s thesis or to a doctoral dissertation for the development of an innovative technology and its utilization for the creative solution of a major problem. Each submission requires a written nomination by the Dean of the Graduate School (College) or equivalent office. The internal institutional selection processes are the responsibility of the endorsing official.

GUIDELINES FOR THE 2013-2014 WAGS/UMI INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY AWARD

1. A nominee must have earned the master’s or doctoral degree within the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. Nomination materials should be assembled in the following order and submitted electronically as one PDF file:
   
   a. The written nomination letter from the Graduate Dean cited in the Eligibility Requirements above. The letter should describe the process that was used to select the thesis or dissertation for nomination.
   b. A summary prepared by the student (100-1500 words) describing the research and how it demonstrates innovative or creative use of technology in the conduct of scholarship. This summary should be directed to a general academic audience of non-specialists.
   c. Letters from the major professor and one additional faculty member. The letters should include information regarding the significance of the technological innovations in the work for the discipline, and for the student’s department and institution.
   d. A copy of the student nominees’ cv or resume.
2. All nomination materials must be submitted electronically in a single PDF file titled: LastNameofRecipient_AbbreviatedNameofInstitution_WAGSTechAward_2012-13 by September 3, 2013, and emailed to Linda La Grange .
3. Initial screening will be based upon
   a. originality,
   b. creativity,
   c. scholarly significance of the use of technology, and
   d. overall quality.
   
   The technological contribution to the degree program and/or the institution may also be a consideration. Finalists will be asked to provide three complete copies of the thesis or dissertation.
4. The 2013-2014 award consists of a certificate of award, $1,500 to the recipient, and travel expenses for the student and student’s adviser to receive the award at the annual meeting of the Association.

Award categories and eligibility:

1) Field of competition for 2013 are a) biological and life sciences and b) humanities (please note: The fields of competition operates on a two-year cycle.  For 2014 the fields will be Social Sciences and Mathematics/Physical Sciences/Engineering; for 2015, Biological/Life Sciences and Humanities/Fine Arts.)

2) Effective date of degree award, or the completion of doctoral degree requirements and dissertation, must fall in the period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013, inclusive.

For more information click here.

Due date:  All nominations materials must be received at the NDSU Graduate School by July 15, 2013.