Wesleyan Theological Society

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Proposal

Nature and Purpose

This award is given to the individual whose doctoral dissertation is deemed an outstanding scholarly contribution to a research area related to the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition. The Wesleyan Theological Society grants this award periodically to recognize scholarship that contributes to concerns and issues that it deems are of great importance.

Criteria for Choice

The dissertation must fit well the nature and purpose of this award, be granted by an accredited, degree-granting institution, and be deemed a substantive contribution to the author's particular field of study and to the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition generally. The dissertation must have been completed and successfully defended less than four years prior to the annual meeting at which it may be honored. (E.g., a dissertation that might possibly be honored at the 2007 annual meeting must have been successfully defended sometime in 2004 or a following year.)

Process of Choice

Nominations may be made by any member of the Wesleyan Theological Society, including the dissertation’s author. The candidate must submit a copy of the manuscript to the society’s promotional secretary for review by an editorial committee. This manuscript should be sent by email as an electronic attachment. Included with the dissertation must be a formal letter providing a rationale for why the work meets the purposes of this award. Such submission must be received by October 1 of the year prior to the March annual meeting. The promotional secretary will take the editorial committee’s recommendation to the WTS Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will take final action on any recommendation so received.

Public Honors

Recipients of this award will be recognized formally at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society. If requested by the award recipient, the society will write a letter to a reputable press recommending that the dissertation be published. Other recognitions may be given as the Executive Committee determines from year to year.