Tenure-track Excellence in Teaching Awards

In Recognition of Excellence in Teaching

While individual teachers develop their methods independently, we as a community benefit when gifted teachers are recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments. Unlike other teaching awards bestowed on campus, the only criterion for the Tenure-track Excellence in Teaching Award is superior classroom performance. The nominee must maintain a flexible instructional policy that adapts readily to student needs, interests and problems. Mastery of teaching techniques must be demonstrated and substantiated. The successful candidate will receive a plaque and an honorarium of $1,000. The awardee will also be honored at the annual Cortland Excels: Honoring Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service Awards Luncheon, and be featured in a brochure highlighting excellence at SUNY Cortland. Letters of nomination are due by December 1st, or the following business day in the event that the due date should fall on a weekend. See below for more nomination information. Self-nominations are ineligible.


Eligibility

Eligibility is open to tenure-track faculty teaching at the graduate or undergraduate level who carry a tenure-track teaching load as defined by SUNY College at Cortland, and have completed at least four semesters of teaching at SUNY College at Cortland prior to the year of nomination. There will be a two-year waiting period before a candidate may be nominated again.

 

Criteria for Selection

The sole criterion for the Excellence In Teaching Award is skill in teaching. In the selection of persons for this award, the following criteria will be considered:

  • There must be positive evidence that the candidate performs superbly in the classroom.
  • The nominee must maintain a flexible instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems.
  • Consideration will be given to the number of students per course and different teaching techniques employed in various courses.
  • Candidates must set high standards for students and help them attain academic excellence. Quantity and quality of work that is more than average for the subject must be required of the students.
  • Candidates must work actively with individual students to help them improve their scholarly and/or artistic performance.
  • Consideration will be given to the quality, quantity, and difficulty of the tasks or work assigned to students.
  • The observation rubric used by members of the Faculty Development Committee to evaluate nominees can be found on the last page of these guidelines or online at: http://www.cortland.edu/fdc/pdf/observation_checklist.pd


Selection Process

Nominations for these awards can arise from faculty, students, and administration based on continuing and recognized teaching quality. Names of potential candidates will be sought through a campus-wide e-mail announcement and the SUNY Cortland publication, The Bulletin. The Faculty Development Committee will receive the nominations and form the Selection Committee.

  1. Letters of nomination should be sent no later than December 1st to the Faculty Development Center, Memorial Library, Room B-303.
  2. The director will contact each nominee by letter to inquire whether he or she is interested in being considered and will provide each potential candidate a list of things that must be submitted. Materials for nominees are due on the first day of the spring semester.
  3. Committee members will make classroom observations during the spring semester using the Teaching Observation Checklist , at the convenience of the nominee.
  4. The committee will complete deliberations in early March and all candidates will be notified of the outcome immediately.


Documentation Required of Candidates

NB: Nominees will not be considered unless all documentation is provided to the Faculty Development Office in the approved form by the deadline.
Nominees will be notified by December 15th and asked to provide the following supporting evidence by the first day of the spring semester.  These items should be included in a loose-leaf notebook with each section clearly identified.

  1. Syllabi
  2. Statement of Teaching Philosophy of no more than two pages
  3. Supporting evidence that documents the effectiveness of their techniques.  Evidence can include, but is not limited to: teaching materials; student work and/or evaluations that target the specific category for which the nomination has been made; and/or students’ statements on how the nominee’s work in the targeted category has impacted their learning.
  4. A minimum of two year’s CTEs
  5. A copy of the candidate’s spring teaching schedule, including any classes that would not be relevant to the evaluation of his or her teaching (e.g., exams, videotapes). Note: the Selection Committee may obtain grade distributions for review
  6. A letter of support from either the appropriate Chair or Dean