About the awards

The BFA Excellence Awards specifically recognize outstanding work and a concerted effort to make advances in the academy. The Chancellor provides financial support for these prestigious awards and a ceremony in the spring recognizes the winners and features a keynote by the Hazel Barnes Awardee for that year. All members of the Boulder Faculty Senate, are eligible to be nominated however, the selection process gives preference to nominees who have been with the University of Colorado for at least five years. Additionally, nominated faculty must be in good standing with the University in order to be considered. The award amount for AY21-22 is $3000. Although faculty may receive the award for a given category only once, they are eligible to receive awards in either of the other two categories in different years. The BFA will grant awards in each of the following areas:

2022 Awards Nominations Information

***UPDATE: Due to impacts from the Marshall Fire and COVID impacts, the BFA Executive Committee has extended the packet submission deadline to Monday, February 7, 2022***

Nomination packets for 2022 Excellence Awards will be accepted from December 1, 2021 through January 31, 2022 (now extended to Feb. 7).  Winners will be notified by March 11, 2022. 

NOTE: Only nomination packets turned in by the deadline and that meet all listed requirements can be considered.​ To ensure this, nominators should use the Table of Contents checklist for the specific award. For full details regarding nomination packet requirements, please see the specific award page.

  • We strongly encourage you to submit your packet early so that we can ensure it meets requirements.* 
    • ​IF submitted before noon on Friday, February 4 (new), we can help you make sure your packet is considered. 
    • IF you have questions about what letters count towards internal, external, or student statements of support - check with our office early in case you need an additional letter.
    • Packets may not exceed the maximum page count. 
    • IF your packet does not meet requirements by the deadline it will not be considered. 
  • Please carefully review the specific Award Description, Selection Guidelines, as well as recommendations for letters for support. Maximum page counts must be ahered to strictly.
  • Contact the BFA office for any questions at bfa@colorado.edu - We know how much work goes into these packets are very happy to help you, if you contact us early. No questions will be answered on either Saturday, January 29 or Sunday, January 30. 

All members of the Boulder Faculty Senate, are eligible to be nominated however, the selection process gives preference to nominees who have been with the University of Colorado for at least five years. Additionally, nominated faculty must be in good standing with the University in order to be considered. Although faculty may receive the award for a given category only once, they are eligible to receive awards in either of the other two categories in different years.

*This applies to page and packet requirements only. Nomination packet content is only reviewed by the BFA Selection Committee faculty. 

Excellence Awards Ceremony

The ceremony is currently planned to be an in-person event on Monday, April 11 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the Glenn Miller Ballroom. The ceremony features a keynote address by the 2021 Hazel Barnes awardee. Since Excellence Awardees from 2020 and 2021 were not able to particpate in an in-person event, they will also be recognized at this year's ceremony.