USC UNION

DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD POLICY

(approved 12-7-01)

 

To encourage continued excellence in teaching each year, USC Union selects its most outstanding faculty member and awards him or her the title, Distinguished Teacher of the Year.  All part-time and full-time teaching faculty are eligible for this award.  In any year, the previous recipient will not compete for the award.  During the year following an individual’s award, he or she will serve on the selection committee as chair.

 

By the middle of February, the chair will initiate the process of forming the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, which shall consist of the previous winner, three students, and two additional faculty members.

 

1.         The chair shall publicly announce the formation of the committee and shall solicit student participation.

a.                   Faculty will be asked to announce to their classes guidelines for student membership in the committee.  One freshman, one sophomore, and one non-traditional student shall serve on the committee, and each student representative must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

b.                  Signs announcing the guidelines will be prominently displayed.

c.                   Interested students who are eligible will offer their names for consideration by notifying the chair of the Selection Committee, either directly or by way of one of their professors.

 

2.         The chair of the Committee, after eliminating any duplication of names and after verifying each student’s eligibility, will present these names to the Faculty Organization which will then elect one student from each category.

 

3.         By late March, the Selection Committee shall have completed the nominating process.

a.                   The Committee will publicize the Distinguished Teaching Award program and describe the nominating process to faculty, staff, and students.

b.                  The Committee will conduct separate student, staff, and faculty nominations (see attached suggested form).  The nominating process might involve the use of a traditional ballot box in the lobby, the distribution of forms and the collection of same in the library or an administrative office with similar security precautions, or another procedure to be determined by the Committee.

c.                   After considering nominations, the Committee will choose three finalists for the award and will invite two additional faculty members to join the committee and help in the final deliberations.

 

4.         By early April, after considering information such as the following, the Committee shall select USC Union’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year.

 

a.                   the results of the nomination process

b.                  a file prepared and submitted by each finalist documenting the finalist’s contributions

c.                   interview with each finalist

d.                  original written material submitted by the finalist

e.                   presentations by student advocates

f.                    visitation to the classrooms of the finalists

g.                   interviews with students of the finalists

 

5.         The criteria for selection will be the following, approved by the USC Board of Trustees:

·        Extent of knowledge of subject.

·        Ability to organize subject, present it clearly, and use a variety of teaching techniques.

·        Honesty, enthusiasm, and energy in dealing with students; accessibility outside of class.

·        Extent to which expectations are made to students.

·        Openness to student ideas, responsiveness, empathy, respect.

 

5.         The winner will receive a $300 award and a framed, matted certificate.  The two runners-up will receive $100 each.

 

 

 

Suggested

USCU DISTINGUISHED TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM

 

To encourage continued excellence in teaching each year, USC Union selects its most outstanding faculty member and awards him or her the title, Distinguished Teacher of the Year.  All part-time and full-time teaching faculty, with the exception of the previous winner (____________________, this year), are eligible for this award.  Eligible this year are:

 

Atkinson, Mr. Ashley	Ivey, Mr. Randy	Morton, Dr. Todd
Barton, Dr. Mary	Jones, Mr. George
Buchanan, Dr. Steve
Charles, Dr. Allan
	etc

 

 

One of the important steps in the selection process is the nomination of candidates by students, faculty, and staff.  Please make your nomination by circling one name above.  Explain why you think this instructor is a “distinguished teacher,” and check off the general information below.

 

The Selection Committee will base its final decision upon these nominations, these justifications, and upon other sources of information, such as syllabus and test files, teaching evaluations, and other written and interview material.

 

JUSTIFICATION OR SUPPORT FOR MY CHOICE __________________________________

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

I am:     student                         faculty                                      administrator/staff_____

                        full-time_____              full-time_____

                        part-time_____            part-time_____

                        auditor_____

 

                        freshman_____

                        sophomore_____

                        junior+_____