Distinguished Teaching Professorship

The following criteria are intended to encompass various aspects of teaching and teaching-related activities at undergraduate and graduate levels across the University.

• Teaching philosophy.
• Mastery of subject and pedagogical techniques.
• Leadership and initiative.
• Educational service to the department, college, and university.
• Educational service to the community, state, and profession.
• Participation in professional meetings and intra-campus and inter-campus activities that promote teaching excellence.
• Course and curriculum development at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Guidance of students in thesis work, honors projects, research, internships, independent studies, and other teaching-related activities.
• Advising.
• Assisting students in career development and exploring job opportunities for students.
• Involvement with student organizations, clubs, honor societies, recruiting, and fundraising.
• Guidance of graduate students.
• Student perceptions of teaching.
• Peer observation and review.
• Previous reception of, or nomination for, teaching and advising awards and other recognition.
• Recognition as a faculty member who has had significant, positive impact on students' lives.

Procedures for Nomination and Selection for the Distinguished Teaching Professorship Awards

• The Provost's office will initiate the recommendation process based on the following requirements:
  • All nominees must be tenured faculty members who have been teaching in their respective area at UNCW for at least seven years. These years need not be consecutive, but faculty who have recently held an administrative appointment or who have been away on reassignment for more than one semester are encouraged to delay nomination until they can present student ratings of courses for at least three recent semesters.
  • All nominees shall currently be teaching not less than half of the "normal teaching load" at UNCW. The Dean of each college/school shall determine and define "normal teaching loads" for that college/school.
    No faculty member is eligible to receive this award more than once.
  • Those faculty members who are currently receiving a stipend for other UNCW teaching awards (the Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Awards and the Board of Trustees Teaching Excellence Award) are not eligible.
  • Faculty who are nominated for both the Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award and the Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award during the same year may submit a portfolio for consideration for one but not both of these awards.
• The Provost's office shall notify faculty members about the criteria and procedures for nomination and the required supporting materials that the nominees must submit for evaluation.
• All UNCW faculty members who have met the requirements of II.A. above are eligible for nomination.
• All college/school chairpersons, directors, faculty, staff, students and alumni are encouraged to nominate faculty members, provided they have met the requirements of II.A. above, in letters stating the basis for the nomination. Nominations should be submitted to the Provost's office by the stated deadline. Nominees will be notified by the Provost's office.
• All recipients of UNCW teaching awards are nominees provided they have also met the requirements of II.A. above.
• Nominated faculty members who wish to be considered must forward a portfolio of their materials to the Provost's office no later than the stated deadline.
• Eligible faculty members who wish to nominate themselves must submit a portfolio of their materials to the Provost's office no later than the stated deadline.
• To select the recipients of the award, the provost's office will appoint a selection committee consisting of five recent recipients of the Board of Trustees Teaching Excellence Award and/or the Distinguished Teaching Professorship Awards (preferably one from the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, one from the College of Science and Engineering, one from the Cameron School of Business, one from the Watson College of Education, and one from the College of Health and Human Services).
• The selection committee will submit the names of four candidates to the Provost's office and the Chancellor's office by the stated deadline.

Nominees who choose to be considered must submit an electronic portfolio of their material for review by the selection committee. The portfolio should encompass, but is not limited to, material relevant to the "Criteria for Nomination and Selection." To facilitate the review process, the material must be presented in electronic form, in the following order, and include:

• A copy of the nominee's resume or curriculum vitae.
• A written statement of teaching philosophy and methodology.
• A written statement of all other teaching-related activities.
• Copies of syllabi and other relevant course materials.
• An official summary of student ratings of courses that have been evaluated over the previous three years.
• Copies of any available peer teaching evaluations.
• Any other supporting material deemed relevant by the nominee.

IMPORTANT: The review committee will not consider portfolios which do not contain at least the first five (5) items and follow the prescribed order.

After selecting the candidates for the distinguished Teaching professorship Awards, the selection committee and a member of the provost's office will discuss the need for any changes in, or improvement of, the criteria and procedures. The results of this discussion will be included in the written report of the selection committee which will be presented to the provost's office and the chancellor's office before the end of the academic year.