Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award

We recognize the importance of the adjunct members. The Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award recipient is recognized by colleagues and students for demonstrated excellence in teaching. Recipients will receive a plaque and a $1,500 monetary award.  

Eligibility 

1. The individual must be classified as an adjunct faculty member. They may be teaching full or part-time but is not on a tenure track.  

2.  Nominees must have taught at least one course during the most recent one-year period, at any location. For example, a person who taught in Spring 2024, Summer 2024, or Fall 2024 may be recognized in 2025.

3.  The nominee must have taught for the University for a minimum of four semesters that do not need to be consecutive, and they must have taught at least 12 credits.

4.  Although the individual may be teaching in Spring 2025, that semester cannot be counted toward either the total credits or the number of semesters, because it will not be completed by the time of Nomination.

5. Past recipients of this award are not eligible. 

Criteria for Evaluation 

Nominees will be evaluated based on the significance of their contributions in these areas:  

1.  Exceptional teaching as evidenced by students’ performance and/or students’ ratings of instruction  

2.  Development and/or implementation of innovative teaching and learning strategies  

3.  Unusual effort devoted to ensuring the quality of the students’ learning experience  

4.  Possession of high scholarly standards for both the rigor and currency of course content and for the    

      level of student performance with respect to these standards  

5.  Evidence of creativity in instructional approaches 

6.  Classroom observations will be conducted for all nominees

Nomination Process 

All nominations must be submitted electronically via Academic Awards Nomination Form  No email nominations will be accepted.   

  The Secretary of the Academic Senate will follow up with nominees, providing them with a copy of the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award, and requesting of them the following:  

  1. A minimum of a one-page paper, not to exceed three pages, describing your teaching philosophies, challenges, achievements, or comments on perceived areas of teaching excellence (required). 

2. Current vita or resume (required). 

3. Up to three additional letters of recommendation or support from students, faculty, or administrators who can speak to your excellence in teaching, as appropriate, will be accepted but they are not required (optional).

4.  Other supporting documentation such as letters of recognition, comments from students, instructor ratings, and/or notes from colleagues or other professionals, as appropriate, will be accepted but they are not required (optional). 

Deadline  

The deadline to submit your nomination via the Academic Awards Nomination Form is 5:00 pm,Friday, January 17, 2025.  Late or email nominations will not be accepted.