College Outstanding Teaching Award

The College Outstanding Teaching Award is awarded annually within HFA to faculty who have made significant contributions to undergraduate student education. The recipients are celebrated for exceptional teaching, mentoring, and curriculum development efforts, and for their impact on students' lives.

How to Nominate

Nominations may be made by an individual’s department chair, department personnel committee, or an HFA colleague. Any full-time HFA faculty member who has been a member of the College for three or more years, who has taught at least two semesters and who has not received the Distinguished Teaching Award or the College Outstanding Teaching Award within the past five years is eligible for the COTA.  

Please see the COTA nomination packet for evaluation criteria.

The deadline to nominate is Friday, February 13, 2025 at 12:00 noon.  The following nomination materials should be submitted to advising [at] hfa [dot] umass [dot] edu (advising[at]hfa[dot]umass[dot]edu) as a single PDF: 

• Classroom Observation Letter.  The letter, written by the nominator or another HFA colleague, should describe 1) the context in which the nominee was observed teaching and 2) the qualities that distinguish the nominee as an instructor and educator. The letter should provide specific examples that illustrate and support at least two of the following characteristics of effective teaching:
  • Teaching Effectiveness and Creativity: Engages students through clear, well-prepared, and innovative instruction that motivates learning and fosters participation.
  • Impact on Students: Demonstrates care for students’ academic and personal growth, encourages diverse perspectives, and maintains a positive, inclusive classroom climate.
  • Subject Mastery and Scholarship: Communicates deep understanding of the subject, connects course material to broader ideas and developments, and integrates current research or creative work into teaching.
  • Contributions to the Teaching Mission: Participates actively in departmental or institutional efforts to enhance teaching quality and pursues ongoing professional growth as an educator.
• A statement by the nominee.  The statement should discuss 1) the inspirations, principles, or experiences that shape their approach to teaching and 2) their teaching goals or objectives, including how they define and measure success. The statement should reflect on at least two of the characteristics above and provide examples that demonstrate the nominee’s impact and commitment to teaching excellence.
• Using the HFA course list template, the nominee will provide the nominator with a list of courses they have taught while at UMass to upload with the nomination.
• Nominators may submit up to 3 student statements of support from students who have taken two or more courses with the nominee. When composing their statements, students should speak to the impact the instructor has had on their academic career and vocational or professional aspirations and describe two or three classroom experiences to illustrate why the COTA honor is deserved.

Dean's Office contacts:  
Nancy Noble, nnoble [at] arthist [dot] umass [dot] edu (nnoble[at]arthist[dot]umass[dot]edu) Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Anthony Tuck, atuck [at] classics [dot] umass [dot] edu (atuck[at]classics[dot]umass[dot]edu). Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs