Faculty and Staff Resources
Resources available for the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. If you have further questions or need assistance, please contact the Dean's Office.
Contents:
- Teaching and Learning Resources
- Recognition for Faculty, Staff, and Students
- Promotion and Tenure
- LEO Lecturer Resources
- Staff Performance Planning and Appraisal Resources
- Dry Faculty Appointments Policy
- Administrative Core Team (ACT)
- Faculty Travel Grants
- Key Requests and Building Access
- CECS Lab or Office Space Request
1. Teaching and Learning Resources
2. Recognition for Faculty, Staff, and Students
Each awardee will receive an individual cash award of $1,000 and recognition on a plaque in the Dean's Office.
- Excellence in Teaching Award is granted to instructional faculty who demonstrate sustained excellence in curriculum development, teaching, or advising at the graduate or undergraduate level. Open to all Lecturers, tenured, and tenure-track faculty. The award committee considers the following criteria: sustained record of excellence (over multiple years); use of innovative teaching and learning practices in taught courses; utilization of project based learning elements in taught courses; dedication to student learning through curricular and co-curricular educational activities; and mentoring and advising of undergraduate and graduate students.
- Excellence in Research Award is granted to faculty who demonstrate excellence in research, scholarly achievements, creative works, or technological innovation that expands the scope of knowledge in the fields of engineering, computer science, or engineering education. Open to all tenured, tenure-track, and research faculty.
- Excellence in Service Award is granted to faculty who demonstrate excellence in service. Recipients will have made outstanding contributions to CECS through direct involvement with committees, programs, special projects, or student organizations that further the mission of the College and the campus. Open to all Lecturers III/IV, tenured, and tenure-track faculty.
Previous recipients:
| Year | Excellence in Teaching | Excellence in Research | Excellence in Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Rafael Ruiz | Areen Alsaid | Azeem Hafeez |
| 2024/25 | Zheng Song | Birnahu Eshete | |
| 2023/24 | Paul Watta | Zhen Hu | Amanda Esquivel |
| 2022/23 | Azeem Hafeez | Shan Bao | |
| 2020 | Anys Bacha | Hafiz Malik | Nilay Chakraborty |
| 2019 | Armagan Bayram | Weidong Xiang | Bruce Maxim |
How are recipients selected?
In addition to individual award criteria above, a faculty member is not eligible for an award if they have received an award in the same category at either the college or campus level in the past five most recent cycles. Committee members select recipients based on achievements worthy of additional acknowledgement or recognition by the college.
Who selects recipients?
Nominations will be considered by ad-hoc committees, which will include: the committee chair, two members of CECS faculty, one member of UM-Dearborn faculty. Lecturers III/IV can serve on the Teaching and Service Award committees. Research faculty may serve on the Research Award Committee. Professors of engineering practice can serve on the service committee.
The award committee chair shall appoint committee members and call a meeting to consider nominees.
The Paul K. Trojan Collegiate Professorship of Engineering was established in March 2012 to recognize faculty members with a distinguished record. Appointments to this position are for a five-year renewable term.
| Term | Recipient |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2027 | Yi Lu Murphey |
| September 1, 2017 - August 31, 2022 | Pravansu Mohanty |
| September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2017 | Pravansu Mohanty |
About Paul K. Trojan:
Paul K. Trojan received his undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degree in metallurgical engineering (in 1955, 1956, and 1961, respectively) from the University of Michigan.
Professor Trojan worked as a teaching fellow in the Production Engineering Department at the Ann Arbor campus in 1956-57. From 1958-61 he worked as an instructor with the Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Department. His association with the Dearborn campus began in 1961, when he joined the faculty as an assistant professor of chemical and metallurgical engineering. He was promoted to associate professor in 1964 and professor in 1970. He was appointed as chair of the Engineering Division from 1962-64, acting dean of the School of Engineering from 1980-82, and interim dean in 1988-90. He was involved with engineering education for nearly forty years and lectured nationally throughout his career.
The Narasimhamurthi "Nattu" Natarajan Collegiate Professorship of Engineering was established in May 2017 to recognize faculty members who demonstrate a sustained record of outstanding teaching, dedication to student success, improvements to the curriculum, implementation of creative teaching approaches, and a commitment to outreach. Appointments to this position are for a five-year renewable term.
| Term | Recipient |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2022 - August 31, 2027 | Bruce Maxim |
| September 1, 2017 - August 31, 2022 | Bruce Maxim |
About "Nattu" Natarajan:
Professor Narasimhamurthi "Nattu" Natarajan earned his bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (1974) and a master's degree (1978) and Ph.D. (1979) from University of California-Berkeley. He served as a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis (1979-81) and the University of Michigan (1981-87) Ann Arbor campus before joining the electrical and computer engineering department as an associate professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1988.
Throughout his 27 years of service to the campus, Professor Natarajan built a strong reputation as a well-respected teacher and mentor. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Engineering and Computer Science Experience, an annual event that invites area high school students to compete in engineering contests. He also founded the Intelligent Systems Club in 2002 to give students the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge developing engineering design projects. After his death, the ION Autonomous Snowplow Competition renamed its team sportspersonship award the "Dr. Nattu Golden Smile Award" in his honor.
The CECS Staff Innovation (individual or team) and CECS Excellence in Staff Service (individual only) Awards recognize staff who consistently perform tasks or services in an exemplary manner, go above and beyond what is expected in their normal range of responsibilities, and/or have creatively addressed a challenge. An individual awardee will receive an individual cash award of $1,000, a framed award certificate, and recognition on a plaque in the Dean's office. Team awardees will split an award of $1,500, receive individual framed award certificates, and recognition on a plaque in the Dean’s office. All members of the CECS community are invited to nominate a staff member or team for this award and everyone is encouraged to consider nominating candidates that are both within and outside your respective area of focus. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Previous recipients:
| Year | Staff Excellence in Service | Staff Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Kerri Madeleine | Shawn Simone and Monica Somand |
| 2024/25 | Brittnie Smith | Tom Wesley |
| 2023/24 | Elizabeth Edenstrom | The MSEL Team - Matt Brown, Faith Olson, Tobias Pace, Shawn Simone, Monica Somand |
| 2022/23 | Kimberly LaPere | CECS Online Team - Joe Goraj & Brad Jones |
| 2019 | Matt Brown | |
| 2018 | Courtney Duffy |
Each awardee will receive an individual cash award of $1,000 and a certificate signed by the Dean. Up to (2) awards per category will be granted annually. An individual student may be nominated for both awards.
Distinguished Graduate Student Instructor Award
Faculty members may nominate any student currently enrolled in a graduate program at CECS who has demonstrated excellence in teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor.
Distinguished Graduate Student Research Award
Faculty members may nominate any student currently enrolled in a graduate program at CECS who has demonstrated excellence in research.
| Year | Distinguished GSI | Distinguished GSR |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Yuhui Wang | |
| 2024/25 | Aws Khalil | Meghana Kasturi |
| 2023/24 | Samuel Olofin and Khalil Zbiss | Abderrahmen Amich and Mansi Girdhar |
| 2022/23 | Linxi Zhang and Zaid El Shair | Nada Lachtar |
3. Promotion and Tenure
The CECS Promotion and Tenure guidelines for 2026-27 will be released at a later date. Casebooks will be routed through the Interfolio system. Please direct any questions to [email protected]
- CECS P&T Policy
- CV Template
- Documentation of Service
- Documentation of Teaching
- Documentation of Research and Creative Work
4. LEO Lecturer Resources
All lecturers teaching at the University of Michigan are subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement between The University of Michigan and the Lecturers’ Employee Organization, AFT Michigan Local 6244, AFL-CIO. Below are some resources you may find helpful.
- LEO Collective Bargaining Agreement (2024-2028)
- CECS Teaching Professor Review Process and Criteria (Revised 8/2025)
- CECS LEO Performance Evaluation Guidelines
- CECS Major and Continuing Review Templates
- CECS Annual Report Template (the file will download automatically)
- CECS Workload Policy for Lecturers
- LEO Professional Development Funding Opportunities (UM-Dearborn)
- Hub for Teaching & Learning Resources
5. Staff Performance Planning & Evaluation Resources
In addition to providing a formal assessment of performance for the last year, the performance evaluation provides an opportunity to recognize individual staff successes and achievements, as well as identifying areas for future growth and development. All supervisors are responsible for conducting an evaluation of assigned staff members by completing a written staff performance evaluation form and reviewing the information with the individual. The required forms can be accessed using the following links.
6. Dry Faculty Appointments Policy
CECS has established specific guidelines for the classification, appointment, onboarding, training, promotion (if applicable), and reappointment of Dry Faculty Appointees in alignment with SPG 201.34-2: Classification and Appointment of Dry Faculty Appointees. View the Dry Faculty Appointments Policy.
7. Administrative Core Team (ACT)
The Administrative Core Team (ACT) makes it easier to get help with administrative requests. Instead of relying on one person, you’ll have access to a team of experienced staff members who work together to provide reliable, timely service across CECS.
When you submit a request:
- It is routed to the team best equipped to help.
- A lead team member is assigned, with backup support available.
- Most requests receive a response within one to two business days.
- You’ll receive updates as your request moves forward.
Submit a Service Request
Select the online form for the type of support you need. Once submitted, your request will be routed to the appropriate team. If additional information is needed, a team member will contact you directly.
Request forms:
- Procurement: Purchase orders, competitive bids
- Human Resources (HR): New hires, shortcode changes, terminations
- Faculty Summer Research Salary/Appointments
- Financial: Journal entries, new projects, guest reimbursements
- Visitor Notification Form: Paid and/or unpaid visitors
- Sponsored Affiliate Account Request (via ITS ticket)
If you don’t see the support you need, email [email protected].
8. Faculty Travel Grants
CECS Faculty Travel Grants provide support to faculty for travel, hotel, and per diem to present their research at professional or academic conferences. These awards should be used to supplement funds available from departments or faculty projects.This funding is available once per fiscal year to CECS tenured or tenured-track faculty who are presenting at a national or international professional or academic conference.
9. Key Requests and Building Access
The safety and security of every department in CECS is our highest priority.
- Only staff and faculty members should submit key requests.
- If a student needs a key or access to your office/lab, a faculty or staff member must submit the request on their behalf.
- Students must first complete Comprehensive Lab Safety Training before being granted access to labs. This training must be taken every year.
- Students will not receive key access to teaching labs. Instead, please submit building access or short term access forms when necessary.
- If requesting key access to space from another CECS department you must have approval from that department office.
CECS Department Access Coordinators: Faith Olson ([email protected])
To ensure the timely processing of access requests, starting immediately, CECS Faculty and Staff must use the following forms to request access.
____________________________________________________________________________
Information to note
- Requests will be processed Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Requests submitted after twelve PM on Tuesday or Thursday are not guaranteed to be processed. i.e. If you submit a request at 1 pm on Tuesday it may not be processed until Thursday. Please plan accordingly.
- Reason must be provided for DAC to provide MCard access outside of standard building hours
- Extended weekend critical access hours are 7 am - 9 pm.
- Only faculty and staff are allowed to request access. Students must have faculty or staff submit on their behalf.
- 24/7 access is not allowed.
____________________________________________________________________________
Current Request Process
Step 1: Complete Comprehensive Lab Safety Training [If you are requesting access to a lab]
Step 2: Submit the request to your Department Access Coordinator (DAC) using the Key or MCard request form. DAC's will no longer be accepting access requests through e-mail.
Step 3: DAC's will reach out to you via email if they need further information to process your key or access request, otherwise, they will forward the request to Facilities Operations for final processing.
Step 4: Once your request is approved by Facilities Operations, you will be notified via email with instructions on picking up your key and/or on the details of your MCard access.
Summarized or extracted from Facilities Operations Key Policy (FO 502):
- Ownership of Keys: All keys to University of Michigan-Dearborn facilities are the property of the University.
- Individual Responsibility: Individuals may use keys only in their official capacity for the University.
- Duplication: Duplication or reproduction of keys through channels outside of the Department of Facilities Operations is prohibited.
- Return of University Keys: All keys will be returned to Facilities Operations upon transfer, termination, or departure from the University. Facilities Operations will provide a receipt to the person returning the key(s) and email a copy of the receipt to the DAC.
- Worn or Broken Key: Worn or broken keys should be reported to the DAC. DAC will notify Facilities Operation that the worn or broken key should be exchanged for a new one. The keyholder should turn in the defective key when picking up the replacement.
- Lost Keys: Lost keys should be reported immediately to the DAC. To obtain a replacement key, a new key request must be submitted.
- Stolen Keys: Stolen keys should be reported immediately to the DAC and Public Safety. To obtain a replacement key, a new key request must be submitted.
Updated: December 18, 2017
10. CECS Lab or Office Space Request
Please use the Lab or Office Space Request form to request lab and office space. Requests will be reviewed upon submission. Decisions will be made by the Space Committee, which meets monthly.
Event Request or Meeting Request:
To reserve a room or space for an event or meeting please use the University Unions & Events form.