Awards given for excellence in teaching
A committee at Utah State University recently named the Department of English and the School of Accountancy as recipients of the Department Teaching Excellence Award. Continuing a tradition that began last year, this award is given to recognize a department’s commitment to teaching and learning excellence.
Receiving word of the award from President Kermit L. Hall and members of the award’s selection committee, both areas were presented a basket of apples as a symbolic representation of excellent teaching.
More significantly, the Department of English and the School of Accountancy were awarded a $15,000 permanent addition to their respective budgets, along with a one-time award of $5,000.
“This award is significant because it recognizes the collective achievement of the department, rather than the accomplishments of a single individual,” President Hall said. “It applauds each department’s outstanding performance and underscores commitment to teaching at Utah State.”
An awards selection committee that includes Christopher Fawson, vice provost for academic/international affairs and an associate professor in the department of economics, chose to honor the Department of English and School of Accountancy after careful evaluation in a two-tiered review process.
First, departments submitted a two-paged pre-proposal that summarized departmental activities over the previous academic year, documenting a commitment to teaching excellence. Proposals from departments that were judged favorably by the review panel proceeded to the second-tier evaluation. These departments then submitted a comprehensive application portfolio which addressed commitment to sustained excellence in teaching and learning, an ongoing assessment and improvement of teaching and learning quality, faculty development for teaching, provision of resources for students and lastly, linking discovery, creative activity and engagement with teaching and learning for the benefit of students.
The field was narrowed to seven finalist departments. Extensive portfolios were then submitted and members of the selection committee made visits to the departments, observing teaching techniques and classroom activity. Teaching enthusiasm, rigor and knowledge of subject were measured, as were communication, effective use of teaching aids and student attendance.
“The two areas recognized this year gave outstanding presentations,” said Fawson. “Each is an excellent representation of Utah State’s teaching culture and we were very impressed.”
All types of classroom models were observed, from small seminars to large survey courses and labs. A range of class levels, undergraduate to graduate, were also included.
It was agreed that the two departments that captured the Department Teaching Excellence Award, English and the School of Accountancy, demonstrated a department-wide culture that encourages good teaching.
“The Department of English reflects a dynamic commitment to literacy, learning and student achievement,” Fawson said. “Being an English student at Utah State not only consists of reading and discussing complex literary texts, but it also means collaborating with faculty and other students to become adept in communication – expanding creativity in an array of visual and print media while stretching the limits of ability to analyze, write proposals, present products of research and to be articulate.”
Similarly, Fawson remarked, the School of Accountancy demonstrates a philosophy that learning is a lifelong process and the proper role of a teacher is to act as a catalyst for discovery.
“The School of Accountancy is particularly skilled in utilizing a wide variety of innovative teaching techniques to spark student interest and creativity,” said Fawson. “They use cooperative learning, team projects, real-world cases, seminar-style class discussions, peer teaching and external enrichment activities.”
The Department of English and School of Accountancy will be formally recognized at this year’s commencement ceremonies as President Hall would like to give appropriate acknowledgment to both areas for “making Utah State the great place it is.”
“The Department Teaching Excellence Award rewards excellent teaching that deserves recognition,” President Hall said. “Since the inception of this award at Utah State, several universities in the country have been impressed by the program and want to implement it into their schools.”
President Hall commended both award-winning faculties and thanked the members of the selection committee.
Members of the Department Teaching Excellence Award selection committee include chair Kathryn Turner, chair-elect Shelley Lindauer, Peter Kolesar, Peter Galderisi, Randy Wiedmeier, Julie Foust, Jamie Purcell, Jennifer Minchey, Jeremy Kidd, Jonathan Kadis, Lynnette Hansen and Fawson.