Faculty Awards

Annual Awards

President’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Instructors and Clinical Faculty

Two award winners are expected to be named each year. The award is designed to specifically honor instructors and/or clinical faculty members who epitomize the highest levels of performance and excellence and who provide a vital role in teaching WSU students in the pursuit of the university’s goals and thereby in the fulfillment of its mission.

I. Eligibility

All regularly appointed non-tenure track members of the Washington State University faculty (half time or greater) at the time of election are eligible for this award. This would include clinical faculty, instructors, senior instructors, adjunct or affiliate faculty (see Section V, pp.104-105 of the Faculty Manual for descriptions).

II. Selection Criteria

The President’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Instructors and Clinical Faculty is presented to a member of the faculty in recognition of truly outstanding accomplishments in the establishment of excellence in the instructional programs of Washington State University. Activities encompassed by this award may be either outstanding singular accomplishments or a record of excellence over a period of years, including some combination of the following:

• ability to stimulate students and convey excitement;
• current, innovative, and effective teaching practices that communicate high expectations and challenge students;
• availability to students and willingness to assist and mentor them;
• valuing and responding to various kinds of diversity among
  students;
• success in significantly increasing students’ intellectual growth, critical thinking ability, and integrated view of the subject matter; and
• organizing or conducting new courses or revitalizing existing courses.

III. Application Process

Any eligible faculty member is welcome to apply for the award. Nominations on behalf of eligible faculty members are also welcome, as long as they are accompanied by the full set of application materials as described below.

The following materials should be submitted to the Office of the Provost:

1. A brief description of the nominee’s position at Washington State University for the past five years and the approximate percentage of assignment to instruction;
2. Courses taught (one-sentence description, number of semesters, enrollment);
3. Curriculum vitae;
4. Statement of teaching philosophy (2-page maximum);
5. A description of the issues, behaviors, and activities that make the candidate a successful teacher. Ideally, this would include evidence of learning effectiveness (e.g., comparative research studies of learning outcomes, evaluations from peers, any publications related to teaching, etc.). (5-page maximum)
6. Summary of recent student evaluations (2-page maximum); and
7. Two to five letters of support from individuals who can evaluate the contributions to instruction and attest to their significance, particularly in light of the award criteria. Letters may come from colleagues, administrators, current or former students, and/or possibly community members whose organizations have benefited in some way as a result of the instructor’s teaching activities. Please ask these individuals to provide a brief description of their credentials in their letter.

IV. Selection Committee

The selection committee will be comprised of faculty members from the WSU President’s Teaching Academy. The duties of the selection committee are to review all nominations for the award, to select two award winners, and to recommend them to the university provost.