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Excellence in Graduate Teaching – In-Unit

Table of Contents

Award Info

Applications Open
October 2, 2023
Applications Close
November 13, 2023
Notification Date
TBD
Award Contact
Dean's Office

  1. Program Overview

    UCF sponsors the In-Unit Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award to recognize outstanding graduate-level teaching. Each college may select one teaching award recipient. The college awardees will also be considered for one additional University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

    Please contact your college for earlier deadlines.

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  2. Funding

    Each college-level recipient shall receive a one-time payment of $2,000 provided by the Office of Research. The individual selected to receive the university award shall receive an additional $2,000. Award amounts are treated as income and are subject to normal withholding tax.

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  3. Eligibility

    • Employees must have contributed significantly to graduate education, including substantial teaching of graduate courses (including thesis and dissertation courses) over the current academic year and the three preceding academic years.
    • Must not have received an Excellence in Graduate Teaching award in the past three academic years.
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  4. Criteria

    The criteria for evaluating applicants’ files shall include three major categories:

    1. Innovations to improve graduate teaching;
    2. Graduate Teaching accomplishments/honors;
    3. Evidence of impact on graduate teaching.
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  5. Application Materials

    Award applications are summited through Interfolio. For more information, please contact your dean’s office.

    Application Materials 

    1. Statement of Teaching Philosophy (one page max., 12-pt. standard margins – previous three years)
    2. Curriculum Vitae
      • Recent presentations and creative activities, publications, and research related to graduate teaching;
      • Graduate teaching accomplishments and honors related to graduate teaching excellence;
      • Development of graduate programs, courses, and teaching materials.
      • Evidence of participation in activities to develop graduate course materials; and,
      • Participation in or facilitation of a graduate teaching workshop or similar activity.
    3. Courses Taught (previous three years)
      • Present by term, with graduate courses highlighted.
    4. Enrollments and Grade Distribution (previous three years)
      • Include table listing enrollment and grade distribution for each class taught in the previous three years.
    5. Syllabi for Graduate Courses (previous three years)
    6. Summaries of Evaluations (previous three years)
      • Includes evaluations of teaching by students, peers, department chair, and other appropriate parties (if student evaluation comments are used, all comments from a selected course must be included rather than selected excerpts).
    7. Teaching Strategies and Materials
      • Those used to challenge students to achieve excellence and expand their intellectual horizons.
    8. Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertations (previous three years)
      • Provide a list of master’s thesis and doctoral dissertations supervised in the previous three years.
    9. Other (optional)
      • E.g., letters from graduate students (please include date and indicate for each letter whether it was or was not solicited).
        • Letters must not be solicited from current students.
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  6. Evaluation and Award Process

    College Evaluation and Award Process

    The dean of each college will charge a faculty committee to evaluate all applications and make selections for the College Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. College recipients automatically compete for the University Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award.

    University Evaluation and Award Process

    The Graduate Council selects the University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

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