Instructions for Nomination
Each college is invited to select and nominate up to three students (in each award category as appropriate) for the Distinguished Dissertation Award. If a college nominates more than three students in any one category, the Graduate School will contact one of the unit’s associate deans (or another designee) to downselect the top three candidates. The effective date of degree award, or the completion of doctoral degree requirements and dissertation, must be within the period of July 1 to June 30 of the prior two years, for the nominee to be eligible.
A college may nominate up to three students for an award in the fields:
Even Years (i.e. 2024, 2026, 2028):
Odd Years (i.e. 2023, 2025, 2027):
Notes:
- The Distinguished Dissertation Award operates on a two-year cycle in regard to fields of competition. The fields of competition for even years (i.e. 2024, 2026) will be Social Sciences and Mathematics/Physical Sciences/Engineering; for odd years (2023, 2025), Biological/Life Sciences and Humanities/Fine Arts.
- This cycle corresponds with that of the Council of Graduate Schools/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award. Winners of the Auburn Distinguished Dissertation Award may be nominated by the Graduate School for the CGS/ProQuest Award.
- No student may be nominated in more than one award category (e.g., in two consecutive years) and may not be nominated by more than one college.
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Even Years (i.e. 2024, 2026, 2028):
Mathematics; Physical Sciences and Engineering; Social Sciences
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the fields considered as:
Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering: Mathematics, statistics, computer sciences, data processing, systems analysis, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, geology, meteorology, astronomy, metallurgy, geophysics, pharmaceutical chemistry; aeronautical, architectural, biomedical, ceramic, chemical, civil, and electrical engineering sciences; environmental health engineering; geological, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering.
Social Sciences: agricultural economics, geography, anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, sociology, government (political science), demography, and psychology.
Odd Years (i.e. 2023, 2025, 2027):
Biological/Life Sciences; Humanities and Fine Arts
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the fields considered as:
Biological Sciences: animal sciences, biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacy, pharmacology; physiology; veterinary medicine, and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields.
Humanities/Fine Arts: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches.
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Each nominee must prepare an abstract (not to exceed 5 pages) of the dissertation, typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. In addition to the abstract, appendices may be included (e.g., references, charts or tables). The pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee. Letters from three references, evaluating the significance and quality of the dissertation work, are to be included in the nomination materials. One of these letters is to be from the nominee’s dissertation supervisor, another from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee, and the third from a person of the nominee’s choice. The nominee should submit the following through the nomination form: letters of reference, abstract, dissertation (or a web link to the dissertation), and curriculum vitae (not to exceed 5 pages).
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The Graduate School will name an award review committee whose members have established records in the disciplinary areas under consideration. At their discretion, additional consultation may be sought. The nominated dissertations should represent original work making an unusually significant contribution to the respective discipline. Both methodological and substantive quality will be judged.
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The deadline for submission to the Graduate School is April 15th. If this date falls over a weekend or holiday, submissions are due by 8:00 am CT on the next business day.
