Associate Dean for Research, Technology & External Affairs

COE Faculty Senate D. Keith Osborn Award for Teaching Excellence

Purpose and Description

The College of Education has established the Faculty Senate D. Keith Osborn Award for Teaching Excellence. There are two award categories: (a) Assistant Professor and (b) Associate Professor. The award consists of an instructional grant of $2,000 and a plaque or other momento. Presentation of the award will be made at a special College of Education function, and recipients will be recognized at the UGA Honors Day ceremonies.

Guidelines and Criteria

Eligibility

Only full-time tenure-track or tenured faculty are eligible.

An awardee must have completed a minimum of three years of service to the University.

An awardee is ineligible for renomination for five years.

No faculty member serving on the Faculty Senate Awards Committee is eligible for nomination during his or her term of service on this committee.

Nominations

With the approval of the candidate, nominations may be made by any group of 10 or more full-time students, any group of 5 or more alumni, by student petition from a student honorary or professional group recognized by the College of Education, or by a group of any three faculty members.

Those writing nominations should see sample dossiers housed in G-10 Aderhold Hall.

Eleven copies of the nomination package, including documentation, are due in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research and External Affairs (G-10 Aderhold Hall) by January 17 each year. Should this date fall on a weekend or holiday, nominations should be submitted the next working day.

Method of Selection

The Faculty Senate Awards Committee will be the review and selection body and will forward its selections by award category to the Associate Dean for Research and External Affairs.

In all phases of the selection process, the nominee will be judged on the basis of the criteria stated below.

A maximum of one award in each category will be made in a given year; however, the committee may choose not to recommend an award in either or both categories.

In the event that no acceptable nominations are received from one category of the award (either assistant or associate professor) while a number of outstanding nominations are received from the other, the committee may choose to select two awardees in one category.

Criteria for Selection

The major contribution of the candidate is well defined and is clearly identifiable as an outstanding contribution.

The candidate has superior teaching evaluations from students, peers, or alumni.

The candidate has made a positive impact on students.

Guidelines for Preparing Nominations

The total nomination package cannot exceed eight pages, excluding the letters of evaluation from alumni or peers. Nominations not complying with the specified length, format, or application date will not be accepted.

A two-page vita. This vita should provide background information relative to publications, presentations, previous honors/recognition, and grants.
A one-page letter of nomination. This letter is to be written by the nominators and should define the nominee's qualifications for the award. Clear indication of the source of the nomination should be given, including the signature of each nominator.
The body of the nomination. This is limited to no more than five typed pages, single-spaced with 11-point font. The first three points below must be included in the body of the nomination. The last point is optional but may be included. Other points may also be included at the discretion of the nominee.
- Nominee's major contributions to teaching. Examples include organizations of novel or innovative teaching methods based on a specific philosophy of education; development of new learning models for teacher education; model course or program development. This section must make the case for the nominee's unique teaching qualities.
- Nominee's personal statement regarding the major contribution, including a self-evaluation.
- Student evaluations of nominee's major contribution to teaching with an emphasis on the three years preceding the nomination. The evaluations may be either of a qualitative or a quantitative nature.
- Summary of former or present student accomplishments related to nominee's major contribution.
Letters of evaluation from alumni or peers. This is limited to four letters.