University Teaching Committee
Outstanding University Teacher Award Program

OVERVIEW (revised March 2012)

Every year, ISU recognizes its most outstanding teachers through the Outstanding University Teacher Award program. By honoring such individuals, the university demonstrates its commitment to teaching excellence and to student learning.

The University Teaching Committee, an advisory body to the Provost that is comprised of former teaching award winners and other campus representatives, is responsible for administering the program, evaluating nominees, and selecting award winners.

This awards program embraces the view that the best teachers likely have a talent for teaching but in addition have methodically and consistently worked over time to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the many different types of activities that comprise teaching.

The guidelines for nominations and for portfolio preparation reflect the UTC’s consensus on the importance of “mindful teaching,” which encompasses persistent, focused, and purposeful dedication to striving for excellence over time. This includes: learning about and applying effective instructional practices across a wide range of teaching activities; evaluating the effectiveness of those practices; and reflecting on personal values and professional experiences to shape future teaching practices.

The program encompasses four award categories.

Outstanding University Teacher Award (Category 1)

This category recognizes tenured faculty. (Non-tenured faculty are no longer eligible.) To be eligible, nominees must:

  • Be a full-time tenured faculty member with at least three years of service at Illinois State University.
  • Received an outstanding teacher award from an academic college or Milner Library.
  • Receive support for the nomination from both their department chairperson/school director and college dean.

Note: Category 1 recipients within the prior five years and current members of the University Teaching Committee (UTC) are ineligible.

Outstanding University Teacher Award (Category 2)

This category recognizes full- or part-time teachers with non-tenure track appointments and for administrative professionals and civil service employees with university credit-generating teaching responsibilities. To be eligible, nominees must:

  • Be a full- or part-time teachers with a non-tenure track appointment (i.e., not on a tenure track); or an administrative professional with credit-generating teaching responsibilities; or a civil service employee with credit-generating teaching responsibilities.
  • Have completed at least four semesters of university credit-generating teaching responsibilities at Illinois State University under one of the eligible appointments above.

Note: Category 2 recipients within the prior five years and current members of the University Teaching Committee (UTC) are ineligible.

Teaching Initiative Award

This category recognizes pre-tenure professors who have shown considerable promise in teaching early in their academic careers. To be eligible, nominees must:

  • Have at least two years as a full-time tenure-track faculty member at Illinois State University, but not more than five years of full-time, tenure track university-level teaching experience at Illinois State University and elsewhere, combined, at the time of their nomination.
  • Receive support for their candidacy for the TIA from both department chair and college dean.

Note: Prior TIA recipients and current members of the University Teaching Committee are ineligible.

Outstanding University Graduate Student Teaching Awards

This category recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching made by graduate students as part of their program and educational experience at Illinois State University. Awards are at three levels:

  • Level I Doctorate-Assistants with sole responsibility for instruction in a course.
  • Level I Masters-Assistants with sole responsibility for instruction in a course.
  • Level II Masters or Doctorate-Assistants directing labs or discussion groups associated with a course taught by a faculty member, or who have significant responsibilities team or co-teaching a course.

To be eligible, nominees must:

  • Be a graduate teaching assistant currently holding at least a .25 FTE appointment (6-10 hours per week) in one of the award categories (see below), or who have held such an appointment for at least one full term (fall, spring, or summer) for the academic year that they are nominated.

ANNUAL TIMETABLE

  • First Monday of March – Program information and guidelines are posted to the University Teaching Committee web site and memos outlining the time frame and any changes in the process are distributed to Chairs, Deans, and others by the University Teaching Committee.
  • Last Monday of April – Names of nominees are due from departments to the Chair of the University Teaching Committee (Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology, Campus Box 6370). Departments should inform nominees of their nomination.
  • Summer – The Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology provides nominees with portfolio development support through workshops and individualized consultation. See CTLT summer programming for details (ctlt.illinoisState.edu).
  • First Monday of September – Completed teaching portfolios are due from departmental nominees to the chair, director or designee.
  • Third Monday of September – Teaching portfolios, including chair’s/director’s letter as described in portfolio preparation guidelines, are due from departments/schools to the offices of their respective college deans.
  • Third Monday of October – Teaching portfolios of final college nominees are due from college dean’s offices to the chair of the University Teaching Committee (Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology, Campus Box 6370).
  • December – The University Teaching Committee completes its review and selection process and notifies all nominees individually of the outcome for his or her nomination. Chairs/directors are notified of their department’s/school’s nominees’ outcomes, deans are notified of their college nominees’ outcomes, and the Provost’s Office is notified of award recipients.
  • Early January – The Wednesday before spring semester begins, award recipients are announced and introduced at the annual Teaching and Learning Symposium.
  • February – Award recipients are formally recognized at the Founders Day Convocation.