The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) has introduced the Norm Jones Excellence in General Education Awards, recognizing faculty across the state who demonstrate outstanding performance in general education instruction.
These awards are named in honor of USU Emeritus Professor of History Norm Jones, who played a foundational role in general education leadership in Utah for several decades. As part of this statewide initiative, Utah State University will select its own award recipients whose applications will be forwarded for consideration at the USHE level.
These awards recognize faculty who help students develop durable skills, design courses aligned with general education learning outcomes, and support the overarching goals of general education at both the classroom and institutional levels. One award will be given to an instructor in each general education designation area (8 awards total).
The award is open to all instructors who have at least three years of experience teaching USHE General Education courses in one or more of the General Education Core and Breadth area designations defined in Board Policy R470.
Norm Jones
USU Emeritus Professor of History
Professor Norman Jones joined the department in 1978 and was Department Head for eighteen years. His dedication to general education was unmatched. He served on the Utah Regents’ General Education Task Force for over twenty years and was a leader in the national effort to “tune” the history curriculum. He was also a Senior Fellow of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and chaired the College Board’s Advanced Placement Higher Education Advisory Committee.
Learn More About Norm JonesHow to Apply
Applications for the Norm Jones Award consist of the following four components:
Envelope
1. Nomination Letter
Max 250 words. From a dean, department chair, or faculty colleague describing how the nominee meets the award criteria.
Submit a Nomination
File Lines
2. Candidate Statement
Max 500 words. A summary from the candidate describing their contributions to general education.
Chalkboard User
3. Sample Assignment & Justification
A specific assignment relevant, engaging, and effective in the candidate’s core or breadth area, along with a short statement (max 250 words) describing the course, why the assignment was selected, and how it reflects the candidate statement. Focus on durable skills and USHE general education learning outcomes.
List Check
4. List of General Education Courses
In a separate document, include a list of general education-designated course sections taught over the last three academic years, including Spring 2026 courses.
Application Process
After nominations are received, nominees will be contacted to provide a candidate statement, sample assignment and justification, and a list of general education courses taught. Once all application materials have been collected, a review committee will evaluate the nominations and select the university award recipient(s), who will then be submitted to USHE for statewide consideration.
Key Dates & Submission
Nominations open on October 15, 2026, and close on November 30, 2026. Nominee packets are due January 22, 2027. Committee review and selection will take place from February through March 2027. University awardees will be notified by email no later than March 31, 2027, and will receive an award letter. The USHE submission deadline for the Norm Jones Award is April 10, 2027. USHE will notify state-level awardees by the end of June 2027. All awardees will be recognized at the Civic Center Faculty Retreat in August 2027, and statewide winners will be recognized at the USHE General Education Summit in September 2027.
Calendar Days
Important Dates
- October 15, 2026 – Nominations Open
- November 30, 2026 – Nominations Close
- January 22, 2027 – Nominee Packet Due
- February-March 2027 – Committee Review and Selection
- March 31, 2027 – University Awardees Notified
- April 10, 2027 – USHE Submission Deadline for the Norm Jones Award
- End of June 2027 – State-Level Awardees Notified by USHE
- August 2027 – Civic Center Faculty Retreat Recognition
- September 2027 – USHE General Education Summit Recognition