Teaching Award Guidelines
THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARDS
Application Criteria and Guidelines
Deadline: February 9, 2024
The CNS Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes excellence in teaching and honors faculty for their teaching accomplishments. The criteria for the CNS Outstanding Teaching Award are broader than those typically applied for the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award, in that contributions to graduate education or undergraduate independent study could be the basis for recognition. The CNS Outstanding Teaching Award program is administered by the College and the Provost's Office, using guidelines established by The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The following information describes the College nomination process and criteria for evaluation as defined by the CTL. The complete CTL guidelines are found here.
Eligibility
- Any full-time faculty member who has been a member of CNS for a minimum of three years and who has taught at least two semesters before being nominated.
- Faculty who have received the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award or the CNS Outstanding Teaching Award within the past five years are not eligible.
- Faculty are nominated by department heads/chairs or a suitable designee.
Award Criteria
Teaching Effectiveness and Creativity:
Evidence that the teacher has developed effective skills in managing the art and craft of teaching. The teacher is enthusiastic, well prepared for class, presents material in an interesting and clear manner, is fair and reasonable in the evaluation of students, and has the ability to encourage and motivate learning in students. The teacher is open to new techniques and approaches to stimulate intellectual growth and to generate active student participation.
Impact on Students:
Evidence that the teacher has an interest in students and advisees and is concerned for their educational and personal welfare. The teacher is approachable and available to students in and outside the classroom, and is involved with student activities. The teacher is tolerant of different viewpoints and treats peers and students with respect.
Subject Mastery and Scholarship:
Evidence of mastery of the subject matter in courses taught, in scholarship, and in public service. The teacher has the ability to organize, emphasize and clarify ideas, and communicate knowledge beyond the mere exchange of information. The teacher blends new ideas, research and developments into instruction both within and outside the classroom.
Contributions to Teaching Mission:
Evidence that the teacher assumes responsibilities on department curriculum, honors, or teaching excellence committees, is involved in supervising graduate students, seeks feedback about teaching quality and is engaged in activities to improve teaching. The latter may include attending seminars, developing special teaching materials or publications, exploring alternative methods, and seeking aid in trying new teaching ideas.
The Nomination Process
The following documentation should be assembled into one pdf document. Please keep in mind that a multidisciplinary committee of faculty from across CNS who are not specialists in the nominee’s field will be reviewing and evaluating the candidate’s materials. Typically, two awards will be given to CNS faculty (1 tenure track, 1 non-tenure track).
- A nomination letter written and submitted by the department head/chair (or a suitable designee) (maximum of three pages). The letter should advocate for the nominee and outline the case for why and how the nominee has met the award criteria.
- A personal statement prepared by the faculty member being nominated (maximum of one page). The statement should describe teaching styles, methods and objectives, and if appropriate, examples of the integration of teaching with research and scholarship.
- An abbreviated CV, made pertinent to the award criteria (maximum of five pages). The CV should include appointment and years of service in CNS (or predecessors).
- A summary of student evaluations of the nominee’s teaching. The summary should be from teaching conducted during the past three years and include enrollment information.
- Up to three letters of support from colleagues and peers. At least one letter should be from a student and one from a faculty member or administrator (maximum of two pages each). The letters should:
- provide specific examples of the contributions of the nominee with regard to the criteria outlined above;
- describe the relationship between the letter writer and the nominee.
Deadline
Nominating materials for the CNS Outstanding Teaching Awards are due no later than 5 p.m. on February 9, 2024.
Submission
- Email the complete pdf. document (nomination letter, personal statement, CV, student evaluation summary, and letters of support) to CNS-Awards [at] umass [dot] edu (subject: Nomination%20-%20CNS%20Outstanding%20Teaching%20Award) (CNS-Awards[at]umass[dot]edu).
- Please include Nomination - CNS Outstanding Teaching Award in the subject heading.