PULLMAN, Wash. Nominations will open this week for annual awards bestowed by the Washington State University Teaching Academy. Finishing touches are being put on an online nomination form on the Teaching Academy website. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 27.
In addition to the Distinguished Teaching Award, a new honor will be added this year the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award.
“The WSU Teaching Academy exists to advance the scholarship of teaching and learning necessary for the success of students and faculty,” said Chuck Munson, academy chair and associate professor of finance and management. “By recognizing excellence through annual awards, the members are able to highlight the achievements of some of the finest educators at our institution.”
The Distinguished Teaching Award honors top full-time, non-tenure-track faculty members. It has been awarded to six faculty members since 2009 in recognition of the depth and breadth of effort put forth by teachers who are not in the tenure track for professorship. Honorable mentions went to three additional faculty in 2011.
“This year, in addition to honoring non-tenure-track faculty, our membership felt compelled to recognize with a universitywide award the many contributions made by adjunct faculty,” Munson said.
“Adjuncts play a crucial role in the delivery of numerous WSU programs,” he said. “And they often bring expertise and experience for specific topics that would otherwise be unavailable for students.”
WSU News and WSU Announcements will post updates once the online nomination form is ready.
Nominations for both awards, including a 250-word description highlighting the nominee’s contributions, are invited from any WSU faculty member, instructors, administrators, students or alumni; self-nominations also are welcome.
Criteria for the awards can be found here.
Committees will review nominations, and finalists in each category will be asked to submit a 1-2 page teaching philosophy statement, letters of support, a curriculum vita or resume and selected supporting documents.
Award winners will be recognized during the University College awards ceremony on April 17.
Past recipients of the WSU Distinguished Teaching Award are: in 2009 Fred Gittes (physics) and Sheila Converse (music); in 2010 James Durfey (crop and soil sciences) and Marian Sciachitano (women’s studies); and in 2011 Pamela Lee (fine arts) and Pat Kuzyk (economics). Honorable mentions went to Tammy Crawford (educational leadership and counseling psychology), Jeanette Martin (mathematics) and Val Miskin (management).