Office of the Provost :

Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Award

For many University of Toledo faculty members, engagement with our community is a frequent and appreciated context in which they conduct, synthesize and integrate their teaching, research and professional service activities.   Rather than viewing community engagement as something in addition to their "regular" academic responsibilities, these faculty members, worthy of this award, recognize community engagement as an applied, effective and socially-valuable means of advancing their teaching, research and professional service goals. To recognize these UT faculty members for excellence in their outreach and/or scholarly engagement efforts, Toledo resident Edith Rathbun has endowed the Edith Rathburn Outreach and Engagement Excellence Fund.

Edith Rathbun, a 1934 Scott High School graduate, worked for the Sun Oil Company as a secretary for 35 years. Her gift recognizes the value of acknowledging faculty for excellence in their outreach and engagement work and for the positive impact their work can have on student learning, research and the community.

The Edith Rathbun Outreach and Engagement Excellence Fund will recognize faculty for exceptional community outreach and for excellence in engaged scholarship, whether in research, teaching or professional service.  Engaged scholarship, for this purpose, means that the research, teaching or professional service is:

• conducted in close partnership with community constituents,
• meets high academic standards, and
• that the outcomes are mutually beneficial to UT and the community.

Two annual recognition awards of $750 each will be awarded at the Academic Honors Banquet on April 20, 2009. To help the fund grow additionally, campus or community members may make additional gifts, for example through the Family Campaign or the Capital Campaign.

For more information or questions contact 419.383.6975