The criteria for nomination and selection are inscribed on the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion: learning, leadership, and loyalty. The suggestions below are intended to make more concrete some of the ways in which these general criteria might exhibit themselves in a nominee.

Learning

A nominee who exemplifies the characteristic of Learning should:

...be possessed of a keen mind which they consciously cultivate and hone through reading, listening, and reflection;

...be intellectually curious, not only in their own field of specialization, but also in the other areas important to an educated person;

...give evidence of independence in study and thought. In professional/academic work conversations, thenominee should demonstrate they accept a conclusion or a point of view only when persuaded that its validity is buttressed by adequate evidence;

...demonstrate in written work and spoken dialog that they are imbued with the spirit of scholarship in their field of academic interest; and

...provide outward evidence of intellectual capacity which show beyond question that peers and colleagues have respect for their ability.

Nomination tips related to learning

• Describe how the nominee is passionate about their academic field.
• Give an example of how the nominee has been intellectually alert and curious in their area of specialization or in another area important to an educated person.
• Give an example of how the nominee has thought critically about an issue or area of interest.
• Provide evidence of how the nominee has challenged themselves intellectually.

The selection committee deliberately chose not to set a minimum grade point average (GPA) which the nominees must meet, on the grounds that grades alone are not sufficiently valid measures of learning.

Leadership 

A nominee who exemplifies the characteristic of Leadership should:

...give evidence of willingness to assume responsibility in professional/academic work by participatingin discussion, raising relevant questions, and generally demonstrating active involvement in their work;

...assume, if called on, positions of responsibility in organizations and groups of which they are a member and perform their duties with diligence;

...make their influence felt on the side of reason and good will, on public issues or issues affecting the life of the University;
 

...perform their professional/academic work, from time to time, beyond the minimum level established byinstructors by reading additional works or performing additional experiment-that is, by “walking the extra mile”; and

...volunteer, on occasion, to take on additional tasks, not from motives of self-aggrandizement but because they feel it will advance the objectives or social welfare of the group.

Nomination tips related to leadership

• Describe how the nominee demonstrates active involvement in professional/academic work and/or performs above and beyond minimum expectations (e.g., leadership in professional/academic work).
• Describe how the nominee has assumed positions of responsibility in an organization and/or beendiligent in performing their duties in an organization (e.g., leadership outside of professional/academic work).
• Provide evidence of how the nominee has volunteered to take on an additional tasks to advance the objectives of a group.
• Public issues often have a direct effect on the University. How has the nominee made their voice heard on public issues that affect the University?

The Committee believes that leadership can be both overt and subtle and that it should not be measured solely in terms of the amount of public exposure gained through holding office on University committees, in organizations, or social groups.

Loyalty

A nominee who exemplifies the characteristic of Loyalty should:

...give evidence in everyday behavior that they adhere to the standards expected of the liberally educated individual;

...measure utterances and actions, not solely from the standpoint of personal conviction and self-interest, but in the context of the best interests of the University as a whole;

...stand firm for personal convictions, if they will pass the tests of reason and good will, even though it may be at the cost of losing group approval;

...exhibit reasoned devotion to the basic values and ideals of democracy as they understand them; and

...operate within the framework of a “loyal opposition” on those issues where personal convictions bring them into conflict with prevailing opinion.

Nomination tips related to loyalty

Provide evidence of how the nominee has stood firm on personal conviction at the cost of losing group approval or bringing themselves into conflict with the prevailing opinion.

• How has the nominee been an active participant in the civic life of the University?

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