Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching – In-Unit

Program Overview

The  In-Unit Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award recognizes outstanding undergraduate-level teaching. College-level awards are distributed proportionally according to the number of eligible faculty in each college. The college awardees will also be considered for one additional University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Funding

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award recipients shall receive a $2,000 one-time payment.

The university-level Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award recipient shall receive an additional $2,000 one-time payment.

Award amounts are treated as income and are subject to normal withholding tax.

Eligibility

All full-time employees in the appropriate discipline with at least three academic years of continuous non-visiting, non-OPS service at UCF immediately prior to the current academic year are eligible, except for employees who have received a college or university excellence award in the past three academic years in the category for which they are applying.

• Employees must be assigned to teach at least two undergraduate courses in the current academic year and to have taught at least six undergraduate courses over the preceding three academic years.
• Employees who have received an Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award in the past three academic years are not eligible for this award.

See Article 23.6 (c) in the current collective bargaining agreement for additional information.

Criteria

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

1. Innovations to improve undergraduate teaching;
2. Undergraduate teaching accomplishments/honors;
3. Evidence of impact on undergraduate teaching.

Application: Steps, Timeline, and Materials

Award applications are summited through Faculty Insight. Please contact your dean’s office for more information.

Step 1: Intent to Apply (9/14/26 – 10/16/26)

• Submit the INTENT TO APPLY FORM: Excellence Awards 2026-27 by 10/16/26.
  • If you intend to apply for multiple Excellence Awards submit the form once for each award.

Step 2: Candidate Packet Build (10/5/26 – 11/9/26)

• Build and submit the application package in Faculty Insight. Submission Deadline: 11/9/26
• Application Materials
  • Teaching Materials (previous three years)
    • Up to three examples
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Other (optional)
    • Examples include:
      • Technology statement for teaching philosophy.
      • Lists and/or samples of recent presentations and creative activities, publications, and research related to the teaching enterprise.
      • Evidence of ability to provide effective instruction in a variety of teaching circumstances including with students of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
      • Letters from undergraduate students {please include date and indicate for each letter whether it was or was not solicited) letters must not be solicited from current student.
  • Text Boxes
    • Undergraduate Teaching Impact (3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
      • This is a plain text field. Bolded, colored, underlined, highlighted, bulleted, and number font is not supported at this time.
    • Undergraduate Teaching Strategies Statement (3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
      • This is a plain text field. Bolded, colored, underlined, highlighted, bulleted, and number font is not supported at this time.

Step 3: College Committee Review (11/10/26 – 1/11/27)

Step 4: College Admin Verification and Notification Letter (1/12/27 – 1/19/27)

Step 5: University Committee Review (1/20/27 – 2/15/27)

Step 6: Administrative Verification (2/16/27 – 2/19/27)

Step 7: Notification (2/26/27)

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 recommendations for the College Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award. College recipients then compete for the University Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.

University Evaluation and Award Process

A university committee with representation from each college that has in-unit faculty will select the University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Awards are ultimately determined by the Provost or designee.