return to Nomination process and deadlines

University of Houston
TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
2006-2007

The University of Houston Teaching Excellence Awards for outstanding faculty and teaching assistants/fellows carry cash prizes of $5,000 for faculty and $1,000 for teaching assistants/fellows. Eight Teaching Excellence awards will be granted to faculty: four awards are reserved for exceptional tenure or tenure-track professors (Category 1), two awards are reserved for tenure or tenure-track faculty who teach University Undergraduate Core Curriculum courses (Category 2), one award is reserved for faculty who have demonstrated excellence in innovative teaching using instructional technology, possibly including but not limited to hybrid courses, online courses, and instructional television (Category 3), and one award is reserved for outstanding faculty who do not have tenure or tenure-track positions, including Instructors, Clinical Faculty, Research Faculty, Artist Affiliates, and Lecturers (Category 4) . There will be two awards reserved for teaching assistants/fellows (Category 5).

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING
ALL NOMINATION MATERIAL IS
5:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 28, 2006

---

- download the Nomination Form -

Criteria

Faculty nominees (except for Category 4) must be tenured or tenure-track faculty who have been in residence at the University of Houston for at least two academic years prior to the year of nomination.

Nominees for Category 4 must have been on the faculty at least half time for three years prior to nomination.

Category 5 nominees must be currently enrolled as graduate students and must have held teaching responsibilities for at least two academic semesters.

All nominees must be teaching during the spring 2007 semester so that the committee members may observe their classes or instructional materials.

Nomination Process

Faculty, students, and alumni may make nominations. Please include the nominator's address, email (if available) and phone number. To nominate a faculty member or teaching assistant/fellow, submit the following items by 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 28, 2006:

1. Nomination form;
2. A one-page letter of nomination;
3. A one-page statement of teaching philosophy by the nominee;
4. The nominee's curriculum vitae, highlighting teaching-related activities such as course development, advising, mentoring, and other contributions to the teaching program of a department or college;
5. The nominee's spring semester teaching schedule. Include class times and room locations. Committee members will visit the classes of those nominees selected as finalists.
6. Up to four letters of recommendation (a maximum of four letters will be considered; all others will be disregarded), distributed as follows:
   1. At least one but no more than two letters must be from a student (current or former) or an alumnus, describing the nominee's contribution to the student's success.
   2. At least one letter must be from a faculty member.
   3. At least one letter must be from an administrator.

   Items (b) and (c) should note specific aspects of outstanding teaching (e.g., extraordinary contributions to student learning, student retention in difficult classes, innovative teaching methods, production of exceptional course materials).

7. For Category 3 nominees only:
   A one-page description of the innovative teaching using instructional technology. This might include mode of delivery, delivery sites, number of students, and any other description of the course that demonstrates how the teaching was accomplished.
    
8. For Category 4 nominees only:
   One additional letter will be required from the candidate's department outlining the nature of the candidate's position and his/her respective role within the department.

Nominations will be accepted on CD only (not by e-mail). Please make a single pdf file (named with the last name of the applicant) containing items 1-8 outlined above. Submit the two (2) copies of the CD to:

Dr. Heidi Kennedy
Director, Academic Program Management
4800 Calhoun Road
Room 207 Ezekiel Cullen Building
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-2035

Questions should be directed to Dr. Kennedy at:  
(713) 743-9187
or via email at hkennedy@uh.edu.

Selection Process

Based upon materials presented in the nomination portfolio, the Teaching Excellence Awards Committee (composed of faculty, students, and alumni) will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Provost. By December 22, 2006, eligible nominees and their nominators will be notified and given additional instructions for completing the final portfolio.

- download Finalist Guidelines (TeachExFin.doc) -

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 will be the deadline for submission of the additional materials.