Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance

The SPaRC Awards recognize exceptional contributions to the research enterprise at Illinois.  

Staff who support the research enterprise in any capacity on the Urbana-Champaign campus are eligible to be nominated. Nominations may be submitted by any faculty or staff member with sufficient knowledge of the nominee's contributions, and self-nominations are welcome.

Individuals may be nominated for more than one award; however, a separate nomination form and nomination letter(s) must be submitted for each award.  There is no limit to the number of nominations a person may submit.  Nomination letter(s) should include specific examples of the nominee's contributions to research administration and clearly articulate why the nominee is deserving of the selected award. 

The SPaRC Awards nomination period is now open through Friday, July 31.  To submit a nomination, please complete the nomination form.   

Award recipients will be recognized at the 2026 SPaRC Retreat scheduled for Friday, September 11, at the Illinois Conference Center. 

If you have questions, please contact Kamil Tamimie at tamimie@illinois.edu. 

Award Categories

The SPaRC Career Achievement Award should be presented to an individual who has made significant and sustained contributions throughout his/her career to the field of research administration at Illinois. Eligible nominees will have supported research administration at Illinois for a minimum of ten years. During his or her time of service, the individual’s contributions will have demonstrated a significant positive impact upon the support of Illinois research administration. Nominees will be reviewed based on their career contributions including service to SPaRC, service on campus committees, presentations within and outside of campus, involvement on panel discussions, authorship of papers in professional publications, and overall contributions to research administration. At a minimum, nominations should include at least two nomination letters detailing a nominee’s career achievements. 

Collaboration

The SPaRC Collaboration Award is presented to two or more individuals originating from separate units outside of their academic college, institute, or administrative home who have collectively advanced research administration or improved a specific process at Illinois that led to increased efficiencies in the administration of research through their collaboration. There is no requirement regarding the length of service to Illinois, but nominations should include specific details of the group’s collaborative contribution that lead to the innovation and improvement of research administration at Illinois.

Innovation

The SPaRC Innovation Award is presented to an individual who through innovation has advanced research administration or improved a specific process at the university, college, center, or department level that led to increased efficiencies in the administration of research through his or her suggestions, practices, or ideas. There is no requirement regarding the length of service to Illinois, but nominations should include specific details of the nominee’s contribution that lead to the innovation and improvement of research administration at Illinois.

Outstanding Service

The SPaRC Outstanding Service Award should be presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service in support of research administration at Illinois. To be eligible nominees should have served the field of research administration at Illinois for a minimum of five years. During the time of his or her service, a nominee should have demonstrated outstanding service in support of research administration at Illinois. Nominees will be reviewed based upon their service to the university, college, center, or department. Contributions may be specific to their involvement in SPaRC, presentations within Illinois, involvement in panel discussions, authorship of papers in professional publications, and overall contributions in supporting research administration at Illinois.