Excellence in Graduate Teaching – In-Unit

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.

Funding

Each of the college-level recipients 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.

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.

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.

Application Materials

The following sections are required to be presented as a single PDF (no portfolios please) and submitted to your College Dean’s Office.

Required

The following sections are required, in the order listed here:

1. Statement of teaching philosophy (500 words maximum, 12-point font).
2. Curriculum vitae highlighting the following:
   • 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. List of all courses taught in the previous three years by term, with graduate courses highlighted.
4. Table listing enrollment and grade distribution for each class taught in the previous three years.
5. Syllabi for all graduate courses taught in the previous three years.
6. Summaries of 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) for the previous three years.
7. Examples of teaching strategies and materials used to challenge students to achieve excellence and expand their intellectual horizons.
8. A list of master’s thesis and doctoral dissertations supervised in the previous three years.

Optional 

These items may be presented as part of the application after the required items.

• 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

Evaluation and Award Process

College Evaluation and Award Process

The dean of each college will charge a faculty committee to evaluate all applications and to select an individual to receive the College Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. College award winners are forwarded to FacultyExcellence@UCF.edu.

 University Evaluation and Award Process

The Graduate Council will select one University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching from the college winners.