Andy Swiger Land-Grant Award

Deadline for submissions is May 28, 2025

Recognizing faculty whose research, teaching, or Extension accomplishments have potential or realized state or national level impacts on agriculture and life science industries, communities, and agencies in fulfillment of the land-grant mission.

The winner will be selected based on his or her creative accomplishments as they contribute to solving practical problems and enhancing production and profit in agriculture and life sciences, as related to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' vision and mission.

The Andy Swiger Land-Grant Award is made possible by an endowment established in honor of former Dean Andy Swiger. The award includes $2,000 (personal funds), plus an additional $2,000 in operating funds for the winner.

All full- and part-time, regular and restricted appointments, academic- and calendar-year faculty with teaching, research, or Extension appointments (including Extension agents) in the college are eligible.

A committee of faculty and agribusiness representatives will review nominations and recommend a winner to the dean.

Nomination Guidelines

The nomination packet should be no more than five (5) pages and include all of the following:

• A description of the nominee's activities that emphasizes his or her creative accomplishments in applied or basic research, teaching, and/or Extension.
• A description of the impact that the nominee has made impactful progress towards solving practical problems and how this effort has enhanced production and profit in agriculture and life sciences.
• A clear identification of the time period and who has been impacted by or has benefited from the faculty member's accomplishments. Evidence may be included as excerpts from supporting letters or the original letter(s) within the nomination packet's five-page limit.
• A short summary of the faculty member's education, experience, and responsibilities.

Colleagues, department heads, staff, or members of the community who are familiar with the nominee's work are encouraged to submit nomination letters.

Previous Nominations

• Previous nominees may be considered by the award committee up to two (2) additional years.
  • For consideration during additional years, an updated nomination must be submitted by the submission deadline.
• Sheila Young will contact nominators of previous eligible applications regarding potential document updates.
• New external support letters are not required for previous nominations.

Nominations for the Award

• A certificate will be presented to the selected individual(s) either at the annual meeting of the college's dean or during another appropriate ceremony organized to recognize the accomplishments of the college's  faculty.
• Each nominee will be considered by the award committee for two additional years, if not selected in the first year of consideration, for a total of three years.