TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
General Statement, Eligibility, and Criteria
I.
Background:
These statements of eligibility
and criteria were developed and refined by SFA Teaching Excellence Committee
members: Patsy Hallman, Jim Garrett, Jean Parker, David Kulhavy, and Larry O'Neal
in 1994 and 1995. In part, the criteria are based on information taken from:
the Teaching Excellence Handbook, (1993-94 edition), published by SFA;
Active Learning: Creative Excitement in the Classroom, (1991) by Charles
C. Bonwell and James A. Eison, published by the Association for the Study of
Higher Education, Washington, D.C.; and from Successful Use of Teaching Portfolios,
(1993) by Peter Seldin, published by Anker Publishing, Bolton, MA. Revisions to this award were recommended and approved by the 2006-2007 Teaching Excellence Committee and the Academic Affairs Council.
II. Nature: These
are awards for excellence in classroom teaching.
College Awards
(6)
One faculty member from each college shall be recognized as the outstanding
teacher from that college for the current academic year. The recognition shall
be in the form of a plaque, monetary award, and public commendation at the awards
ceremony held during the Spring semester of the academic year. Each college
will determine the recipients of these awards.
University Award
(6)
Each college recipient will also be recognized as a university recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award at the University Teaching Excellence Convocation. During this convocation each recipient will receive a plaque and monetary award provided by the Office of the Provost in recognition of his or her accomplishments. The award will be presented by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at the awards ceremony.
III. Eligibility:
- Candidates for the award must be current full-time employees of Stephen F. Austin State University with a minimum of 50 percent of their contractual work load devoted to classroom teaching. Individuals are ineligible while they are serving on the University Teaching Excellence Committee. All past recipients of the SFA Teaching Excellence Award (University Award) are ineligible. Currently, the only persons who are ineligible on the basis of having received the award are:
- 1994 Dr. Jim DiNucci
- 1995 Dr. Bob Szafran
- 1996 Mr. Allen Oster
- 1997 Dr. David W. Jones
- 1998 Dr. Thomas O. Callaway
- 1999 Dr. Marsha Bayless
- 2000 Dr. Rachel A. Underwood
- 2001 Dr. Suzy Weems
- 2002 Mrs. Shirley Watterston
- 2003 Dr. Dan Bruton
- 2004 Dr. Jim Garrett
- 2005 Dr. Alan Sowards
- 2006 Dr. Wanda Mouton
- 2007 Dr. Phil Stetz
- 2007 Dr. Rick Jones
- 2007 Dr. Aylx Frantzen
- 2007 Dr. Doyle Srader
- 2007 Dr. Kenneth Farrish
- 2007 Ms. Leisha Bridwell
Candidates are to be evaluated on the basis of the criteria established below in Section IV, Characteristics of Effective Teachers. The Primary Criteria are considered necessary standards that a candidate must satisfy in order to be eligible to receive the award. Secondary criteria are considered desirable qualities. Additional criteria are considerations that might be applied to select the best nominee from otherwise equal candidates.
IV. Characteristics
of Effective Teachers
A. Primary Criteria:
- Knowledgeable about
subject matter
- Well organized lectures,
assignments, and courses
- Enthusiastic regarding
teaching and learning
- Interested in students
as individuals
- Sensitive to the learning
environment
- Available to students
- Innovative instruction
- Effective teaching
as assessed through student, peer, and/or alumni evaluations
B. Secondary Criteria:
- A commitment to continuous
improvement of their own classroom teaching
- Teaching awards and/or
nominations for teaching awards
- Contribution to the
improvement of the quality of teaching within the university through assistance
and encouragement of other faculty
- Service activities
which relate to the improvement of the quality of education and/or teaching
- C. Additional Considerations:
- Publications by students
- Publications which
bear directly on the improvement of teaching quality generally or within
an academic area
V. Application and Review
Procedures:
Each Department Chair should submit the name of an applicant for the college/university award to their college Dean by February 29. Department Chairs may use a selection committee from their department for recommendations. From these applicants the Dean should select the Outstanding Teacher from that college. The Deans may, at their discretion, appoint a committee to assist in the selection of the College's Outstanding Teacher. The Dean will forward the name of their College’s Outstanding Teacher with a supporting letter to the Provost by March 21.
These College Outstanding Teachers will be recognized at the University Teaching Excellence Convocation as University Teaching Excellence Award Recipients .
VI. Teaching Excellence Convocation:
-
All University awards will be presented at the Teaching Excellence Convocation, in the University Center, to be held April 29, 2008.
VII. Deadlines:
-
Department Chairs submit candidate to College Dean's office no later than February 29. Each Dean should forward their college Outstanding Teacher recipient with supporting letter to the Provost/V.P.A.A.'s office by Friday, March 21, 2008.
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