Regents awards

The Regents Awards are among the highest honors bestowed by the Texas A&M University System. These prestigious awards recognize outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions in teaching, service, research, and professional service, with a focus on benefiting the state of Texas and beyond. The awards highlight those who have gone above and beyond their duties, impacting their communities, institutions, and professions at local, state, national, and international levels.

Regents Professor Award

Established by the A&M System Board of Regents in 1996, the award honors exceptional faculty members (at the rank of professor or equivalent) for their exceptional service. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their university or agency, as well as to the community, the state of Texas, and/or internationally.

Regents Fellow Service Award

Established by the A&M System Board of Regents in 1998, the award honors service, extension, and research professionals who have made significant contributions, creating lasting benefits for Texas and beyond. This award is specifically for professionals working within the member agencies and is similar in purpose to the Regents Professor Award Program.

Award Criteria & Guidelines

Nominees for both awards must exemplify the following characteristics:

Excellence in Service

Significant contributions in
the area of expertise
that impact their institution, profession, and society.

Commitment to Excellence

A sustained and notable
track record of
performance and service
over the years.

Leadership

Demonstrated leadership in professional role or field, contributing to the
mission of the A&M System.

For additional information, please refer to the Regents Professor Award and Regents Fellow Service Award guidelines.

You can also review sample biographies, including examples for the Regents Professor and Regents Fellow awards.

NOMINATION PROCESS, deadline & SUBMISSION PORTAL

A Call for Nominations is issued by the Chancellor each January for the current fiscal year to all System Chief Executive Officers (CEO).  The CEOs initiate an internal nomination process within their respective organizations.  The CEO then submits their nominations to the Chancellor through the System Office of Academic Affairs by late June of the current year.

Member institutions are not required to submit nominations for the Regents Awards each year.

The nomination process involves two steps:

  1. University or Agency Nomination Packet: Each university and agency has its own review and approval process for submitting nominees.
  2. Submission of Additional Materials: Only university- and agency-approved nominees are eligible to submit additional materials through the online Nomination Submission Portal.

All nominations are coordinated and approved by the respective university’s president/agency’s CEO or designee. Be sure to include the signed letter from the university president/agency CEO authorizing the nomination.

The deadline for a member institution to submit their nomination(s) for the 2024-2025 Regents Awards is June 30, 2025.

Click here to access the Nomination Submission Portal.

SELECTION PROCESS

Each member institution is responsible for ensuring that its nominees embody the highest standards of excellence and have a sustained record of achievement in education or program delivery, scholarship, research, extension, or service. The university or agency is accountable for evaluating the nominee’s qualifications and is expected to conduct a rigorous and thorough selection process to identify its Regents Award nominee(s). The institution’s endorsement represents the final level of review before submission to the Board of Regents for consideration. Board action on nominations typically occurs during the fall meeting.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

View the cumulative list of Award Recipients over the years, learn more about the number of awards given each year, or explore the list of past award recipients by year.