In support of the UNC System’s mission, the Board of Governors honors and recognizes excellence in areas of teaching, research, and public service through the following awards.

OLIVER MAX GARDNER AWARD

The Gardner Award is an annual award, first presented in 1949. It recognizes a member of the UNC System faculty who, during the current scholastic year, has made “the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race.” The award is the highest honor the System confers on faculty. All faculty members, from across all 17 constituent institutions, are eligible. 

THE GOVERNOR JAMES E. HOLSHOUSER, JR. AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

The Public Service Award is an annual award, created in 2007 to encourage, identify, recognize, and reward public service by faculty of the University. Faculty of any of the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina are eligible. At its August 2013 meeting, the Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution to rename the award after Governor James E. Holshouser, Jr.

AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING

The Teaching Awards were established in 1994 to underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support good teaching within the University.  Every year, a faculty member from each constituent institution receives this award.

UNIVERSITY AWARD

The University Award, created in 1979, periodically recognizes illustrious service to higher education and is the highest distinction of this nature that the University bestows.  Administrators or faculty members of the University are not eligible for the Award, nor are voting members of the Board of Governors or of the institutional boards of trustees.