Criteria for University-Wide Teaching Awards
(Note: Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award has different requirements)The Academy of Distinguished Teachers
Nominations due February 19. The Academy was established to recognize and honor tenured faculty members who have made sustained and significant contributions to education, particularly at the undergraduate level, within the context of their responsibilities as a full-time faculty member. Members of the Academy are expected to have a distinguished teaching record—many have won teaching awards prior to their appointment to the Academy.
While Deans are not constrained to any formal procedures to identify nominees, they should consult with department chairs and faculty and with student council and/or other representative student groups in their college as part of the process. In addition, consultation with current members of the Academy from the relevant school or college is strongly recommended. If more than one nomination is submitted from a college or school, the Dean of that college or school should rank the nominees. While membership in the Academy recognizes teaching excellence and contributions to education, the Department Chair’s Letter should also provide the context of this excellence by noting the nominee’s scholarly and service contributions.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
The Provost or his or her delegate (with vote).
One other representative of the university's central administration, selected by the Provost.
Two students, selected by the Provost.
Two faculty members who are NOT members of the academy, selected by the Provost.
Four representatives of the Academy recommended by members of the academy and selected by the Provost.
Award Amount:
Following election to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers, each faculty member will
receive, effective the next academic year, a permanent academic salary increase of $7,000.
The William David Blunk Memorial Professorship
Nominations due February 19. The William David Blunk Memorial Professorship recognizes a member of the faculty who has demonstrated an outstanding record both of undergraduate teaching and in concern for undergraduates as demonstrated through advising and general guidance given to students. Such concern for students should have occurred within the context of excellent scholarship and high standards of performance. Each nominee must hold a tenured faculty appointment at UT Austin, preferably at the level of professor.
No adjustment in faculty workload is made for the professorship holder during the year of appointment. Fellowship holders must be on campus during their appointments.
Candidates will be judged in terms of:
General academic qualifications and performance;
Demonstrated teaching ability, particularly with undergraduates.
Evidence of special interests in and on behalf of undergraduate students, including undergraduate thesis advising, undergraduate involvement in research, academic advising and other efforts which make the student educational experience more satisfying and meaningful.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
The Provost or his or her delegate (with vote).
One representative of the Dean of Students Office.
Four faculty selected by the Provost.
One undergraduate student selected by the Provost.
Award Amount:
The Professorship is for one academic year, although the terms of establishment provide for
the possibility of one or even two renewals for a truly outstanding individual. The Professorship
carries with it a salary supplement of $9,000 (*) and $1,500 (*) in support of teaching and
related activities on behalf of students.
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
The Chancellor's Council Outstanding Teaching Award
Nominations due February 19. The Chancellor's Council, The University of Texas System, funds the Chancellor's Council Outstanding Teaching Award to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching at UT Austin by a senior member of the faculty.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
The Provost or his or her delegate (with vote).
Five faculty members selected by the Provost.
Two undergraduate students selected by the Provost.
Award Amount:
The selected faculty member will receive a cash honorarium of $5,500 (*).
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
Dads' Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships
Nominations due February 19. At its August 1983 meeting, The University of Texas System Board of Regents established two Dads' Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships. Funds for one endowed fellowship were raised by the UT Austin Dads' Association under the leadership of Mr. Ralph Spence; the other endowed fellowship was established with matching funds under the Centennial Teachers and Scholars Program. Faculty members considered for appointment to these fellowships should hold regular, on-going faculty positions at UT Austin and should be actively engaged in the instruction of freshman undergraduates. Fellowship holders must be on campus during their appointments.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
Selection of the four faculty members to be appointed as Dads' Association Centennial Teaching
Fellows will be made based upon recommendations from the deans of colleges and schools offering
courses for freshman undergraduates. Each dean may submit up to three faculty nominees (rank ordered).
Award Amount:
Based on anticipated endowment income, we expect to appoint four fellowship holders (two in fall and
two in spring) with a salary supplement of $3,500 (*) each.
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
FRIAR Centennial Teaching Fellowship
Nominations due to be determined. The Friar Society was established in 1911. It is the oldest and one of the most distinguished multi-disciplinary honor societies at the University. A selection committee made up of society members annually reviews faculty and recommends a recipient to the Provost for his approval. This award recognizes a faculty member who, first and foremost, has attained distinction in teaching undergraduates; and second, who embodies the Friar ideal in having made a significant contribution to The University of Texas at Austin beyond the duties of her or his calling.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
In November the Friar Society asks for recommendations university-wide via brochure mailed to Deans,
Chairs, and Administrators.
In March the Friar Society recommends recipient to the Provost who then recommends to the President.
Award Amount:
The Fellowship carries a $15,000 salary supplement and $3000 in teaching and research support (*).
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
Jean HOLLOWAY Award for Excellence in Teaching
Nominations due February 19. This award symbolizes UT Austin’s commitment to teaching excellence and provides the means to recognize and reward an outstanding tenured or tenure-track teacher from the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences. The person selected should demonstrate warmth of spirit, a concern for society and for the individual, and the ability to impart knowledge while challenging his/her students to independent inquiry and creative thought, as well as a respect for the understanding of the permanent values of our culture.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
10 students (5 from Liberal Arts; 5 from Natural Sciences)
3 faculty advisors (without vote). The advisors are the relevant Associate Deans from each college and the previous year’s Holloway Award recipient.
A fourth advisor (without vote) is a representative from the Ex-Students Association.
The committee solicits nominations from students and ex-students, reviews the credentials, and recommends a candidate to the Executive Vice President and Provost.
Award Amount:
A cash honorarium of $4500 is awarded.(*)
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
Minnie Stevens Piper Professorship
Nominations due October 7. In anticipation of The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation’s nomination request for the Piper Professorship, please submit materials for your nominations by late October. The Piper Professor Award recognizes professors for outstanding academic, scientific, and scholarly achievement and for dedication to the teaching profession. These awards are intended to provide increased recognition of teaching excellence, although the Foundation's Selection Committee also considers research, publication, and related activity.
Nominees should complete Part B of the Piper Professor nomination form
(http://www.window.state.tx.us/scholars/programs/ppnominationform.html).
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
A UT Austin faculty selection committee will recommend to the Executive Vice President and Provost
the nominee(s) whose name(s) will be submitted from UT Austin to the Foundation. The UT committee
is comprised of the Provost or his/her designate and five faculty selected by the Provost. The
Foundation will announce the recipients of the award in the spring.
Award Amount:
The Piper Professor typically receives a cash honorarium of $5,000 (*).
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
President's Associates Teaching Excellence Awards - no nominations until 2010
Nominations due October 7. The President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award was established in the fall of 1980 to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching at UT Austin in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
Nominations are reviewed by the Vice Provost who then makes recommendations to the Provost for
final approval.
Award Amount:
Recipients receive a $5,000 (*) honorarium via payroll.
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
Joe and Bettie Branson WARD Excellence Award
Nominations due February 19. This award is made every three years (next award to be given 2010). It is based on the belief that education involves positive change and is the aggregate of all processes by means of which a person, or groups of people, develop abilities, attitudes and other forms of behavior of positive value to the society in which they participate. All areas of intellectual activities are within the scope of the award and any administrative unit of The University of Texas at Austin may submit as many faculty nominations as it chooses.
An individual may initiate a nomination, including a self-nomination, but that nomination must be endorsed and submitted by the head of an administrative unit. If more than one nomination is made by a unit, they shall be rank ordered. Normally, the award is presented to one person, but partners in a specific activity may share it.
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
All nominations are compiled and reviewed by an advisory committee appointed by the Provost.
Award Amount:
A cash honorarium of $5000 is awarded.(*)
(*) NOTE: Amount of honorarium varies depending on endowment income.
Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards
Nomination deadline October 7. In November 2008, the Board of Regents introduced the Regents’ Outstanding Teachers Awards for the nine academic institutions. The awards are a symbol of the importance they place on the provision of undergraduate teaching and learning of the highest order, in recognition of those who serve our students in an exemplary manner and as an incentive for others who aspire to such service. These teaching awards will complement existing ways in which faculty excellence is recognized and incentivized.
Nomination process. The process of selecting candidates will be a rigorous campus-based process, relying heavily on student and peer faculty evaluations within academic departments and progress through various stages of evaluation up through the university, resulting in a recommendation from the campus president. No more than 76 candidates may be recommended per year.
Criteria. Award nominees must have clearly demonstrated their commitment to teaching, and a sustained capability to deliver excellence to the undergraduate learning experience, through all of the following principal criteria:
Peer review evaluation of curriculum quality, classroom expertise, and demonstrated focus on learning outcomes and assessment of those outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to link faculty scholarship with innovative course development, content, and intellectual challenges that together will inspire students’ curiosity and creativity, and promote student engagement in the learning process.
Additional extraordinary commitment to teaching can be demonstrated in a variety of ways including mentoring students, service learning, engagement, advising, being available to students, and undergraduate thesis advising.
Nomination contents. The nomination packet should include:
Examples of assessments used to ascertain student attainment of learning outcomes;
Examples of student engagement in learning (such as active learning strategies, field experiences, service learning, learning communities, and/or undergraduate research);
Continuous improvement of course materials;
Student feedback;
Scholarship links to pedagogy;
Teacher training experience; and
A statement of teaching philosophy, objectives, and commitment
Letter(s) of support from students (limit 3)
Letter (s) of support from peer faculty (limit 3)
Letter of support from chair of department
Letter of support from dean of the college
Syllabus of recent favorite course
Curriculum vitae
The Selection Committee is comprised of:
A university-wide committee, convened by the Provost will evaluate the nominations from Schools
and Colleges. This committee will forward their recommendations to the Provost and President, who,
in turn will forward to The Office of Academic Affairs at UT System. OAA will administer the program
on behalf of the UT System Board of Regents. The awards will be determined by a selection committee
appointed by the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
The award committee should evaluate nominations from units. Within each category of award (tenured, tenure-track, non-tenure track) the dean should rank order the nominees and explain the ranking in a cover letter.
The selection committee will also consider the following attributes:
Evidence of continuous improvement and innovation in the preparation of course materials.
Commitment to high quality undergraduate education from participation in, and experience from, teacher training and/or academic teaching conferences.
Appropriate use of technology in the classroom (integrated into the curriculum).
Evidence of teaching awards already gained at department, college or university levels or elsewhere (professional discipline associations).
Evidence of discipline-related interaction with students beyond the classroom, such as sponsorship of student organizations, sponsorship of scholastic fraternities, field experiences, and undergraduate research.
Award Amount:
The Regents have allocated $1 million per annum for five years, beginning FY 2009, for these teaching
awards to be available to faculty at UT Austin. The awards will involve one-time payments to individual
faculty. It is intended that no fewer than 30 total awards will be made each year. The intended award
breakdown is as follows:
Tenure-track faculty: nine awards of $25,000 each; and
Non-tenure track faculty: nine awards of $15,000 each.
Recipients
