Awards and Funding Opportunities

The Board of Regents Faculty Award was developed by the Council of University System Faculty (CUSF) in order to publicly recognize distinguished performance on the part of faculty members, and to place faculty achievements before the public on a regular basis. Eligible faculty includes all full-time faculty employed by the University of Maryland System, who have distinguished themselves in the areas of teaching, research and scholarship, and service.  One to three $2000 prizes in each of five areas are made to faculty members from research institutions in the areas of Teaching, Scholarship, Public Service (including K-12 programs and clinical practice), Mentoring, and Inter-institutional Collaboration. For additional information, contact the Faculty Affairs Office at (301) 405-6803.

The Elkins Professorship for Academic Transformation is a prestigious fellowship awarded to faculty within the University System of Maryland. For AY26-27, the Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation seeks nominations for faculty in support of innovative projects focused on the use of Generative AI to advance academic transformation. Specifically, three awards of up to $10,000 each will be granted under this professorship to faculty focused on the use of Generative AI to enhance teaching and learning. 

The Regents Professorship was established by the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland in order to recognize one or more faculty members whose record of scholarly achievement and potential for truly exceptional service to the System and its institutions warrants appointment to this most prestigious rank in the University System. Appointment to a Regents Professorship is made by the Chancellor upon recommendation by one or more of the Presidents of University System of Maryland institutions. A modest monetary award, to be used for travel, research or publication costs, or personnel and equipment costs, accompanies the appointment. Criteria for appointment include national or international recognition for achievements in the arts, the sciences or the professions, and eligibility for appointment to the rank of professor at one or more institutions of the University System. Regents Professors may participate in the advisement and/or instruction of undergraduate students; present an annual public lecture or performance at one of the institutions of the University System of Maryland; or participate in other scholarly activities that will enhance some aspects of the University System of Maryland and some of its components. This may include such activities as curriculum development (formal or informal courses), faculty development, citizen outreach, or organizational enhancement. For additional information, contact the Faculty Affairs Office at (301) 405-6803.

Income from the endowment for the Elkins Professorship is intended to support compelling projects with focus on research, scholarship, or community engagement that will allow the Elkins Professor to make an important contribution to the teaching, research, or public service mission of the institution and the entire USM. Direct involvement with undergraduate and/or graduate students and outreach to other institutions within the System are hallmarks of the Elkins Professors. Beginning in FY 2027, individual Elkins Professorship awards will be made up to a maximum of $40,000. This change is designed to expand opportunities across the System, allowing us to support multiple Professorships and a broader range of innovative projects.