The D.W. Brooks Faculty Awards for Excellence were initiated by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and funded by an endowment to recognize faculty each year for excellence in teaching, research and extension. The teaching award was established in 1981 to recognize faculty members who make outstanding contributions and maintain excellence in the teaching program of the college. In 1983 the awards expanded to include research, extension and county Extension programs. An award for global programs was added in 1988.