Excellence in Teaching Award

The Award

• The award is given once each academic year, subject to qualified nominees.
• The award is announced at the All-Campus meeting in June, with the recipient receiving a $2,000 prize.

Eligibility

• Must have at least three years of continuous service as a full-time faculty/instructor.
• Must have taught at least two terms or equivalent in the current year.
• Recipients may be re-eligible for the award three academic years after receiving the award.
• No self-nominations allowed.
• Nominations must be received by May 30, 2025

Criteria

• Demonstrated high standards of teaching effectiveness.
• Outstanding or innovative teaching techniques.
• Positive reputation for teaching from the perspectives of students, colleagues, and alumni.
• Evidence of sustained commitment to teaching.
• Evidence of high levels of student learning or achievement.

An excellent teacher demonstrates mastery of the following: command of the subject, an analytical approach to the material, recognition and contrast of variant interpretations of the data where appropriate, consideration of current work in the field, and ability to show the relationship between the particular subject and other areas of knowledge. The excellent teacher also clearly explains expectations and subject matter, recognizes the students’ level of comprehension, defines the objectives; summarizes major points, organizes the material logically, and emphasizes crucial ideas; encourages student participation, welcomes interaction with students, and is sensitive to the response of the class; deals ethically with students, and seeks rapport with them; motivates and challenges students, is dedicated to the subject and the teaching profession, displays self-confidence, and communicates a sense of excitement for the pursuit of knowledge.

Nomination Procedure

Any Bellevue University student, faculty member, department chair, dean or colleague may nominate a faculty member/instructor (no self-nominations allowed). Submit nominations for this award via electronic mail or in a sealed envelope labeled Excellence In Teaching Award Nomination through the dean of the faculty member’s college. Nominations must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2025 to be eligible. The Dean’s Office will contact the nominee to ask if he/she will accept the nomination prior to forwarding all nominations to the Office of the Chief Academic Officer. Nomination forms are available online at www.bellevue.edu/event-forms/staff-faculty-awards/awards or paper version within each college. The nomination must contain a statement in support of the nominee.

Announcement and Disbursement

The recipient will be announced at the All-Campus meeting in June. The funds will be disbursed on or after July 1st.

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