Purpose
To recognize and reward educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation, and effectiveness in their teaching practices with an emphasis on demonstrating a strong creative and visual connection to the disciplines that are taught.
Award
The award is in the amount of $2,000 less applicable taxes. In addition to the monetary award, the recipient will receive a commissioned art piece as well as have the opportunity to deliver a lecture or workshop on teaching.
Eligibility
All campus faculty with teaching as part of their workload are eligible to apply.
Nomination and Submission
This section outlines who can nominate individuals for this award and what to include in the nomination packet. As you prepare packets, please keep the purpose of the award and any listed criteria in mind. In many cases, there are length guidelines in place for packet components (e.g., include a letter of nomination that is no longer than 2 pages, double-spaced). The overall length of a packet is not of importance to the selection committee – the focus should instead be on providing convincing evidence of the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions. An unsuccessful nomination packet may be updated and resubmitted up to three times within a 5-year period, per award (i.e., Professor Truman the Tiger is not selected in the first year the packet is submitted and can now be resubmitted for the same award two more times within the next 4 years).
Who can Nominate for this Award:
Faculty colleagues, students, departments, schools/colleges, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals.
What to Include in the Nomination Packet for this Award:
- Submission Requirements Form
- Nomination/Cover Letter (limited to 2 double-spaced pages)
- Supporting letters (limited to three) from alumni, students (former or current), colleagues and departmental or divisional administrators
- Personal statement (limited to 2 double-spaced pages) from the nominee regarding his/her philosophy of teaching including summarization of how they engage in innovative and effective teaching practices with strong creative and visual connections to the discipline(s) taught
- A representative list of courses taught (including syllabi) and students advised by nominee (limited to the past five years)
- Data from two or more instruments that evaluate instructional activity (limited to the past five years). For example, student evaluations of teaching, peer observations of teaching, results of assessment of student learning, or other relevant methods of evaluation. Do not include copies of individual student or course forms/sheets. If including student evaluations of teaching, please use the Student Feedback on Teaching Chart (for all courses taught before Fall 2023). Also, please use this Student Feedback on Teaching Chart (for all courses taught beginning Fall 2023). Data for courses taught beginning Fall 2023 should come directly from the Construct Mean table on the Feedback on Instruction and Course form.
- Nominee’s curriculum vitae (limited to 5 pages)
- be sure to include grants received for the improvement of instruction or teacher preparation
Nomination materials are reviewed on the following criteria:
- The faculty member demonstrates a commitment to student learning, teaching excellence, engagement, mentorship, and educational innovation inclusive of visual communication and creative pursuits.
- They design and employ inventive teaching methods, transforming traditional lectures into dynamic, interactive experiences that captivate students and demonstrate a strong creative and visual connection to the disciplines that are taught.
- They seamlessly connect academic concepts to real world applications, providing students with practical insights and preparing them for future challenges as global citizens who are visually literate in a technological world.
- They cultivate an inclusive and collaborative learning environment, communication, and the exchange of ideas among students where students are making meaning through meaningful curricular experiences. The design of assignments and projects bring significance to the course content.
- They engage students and demonstrate a genuine passion and expertise for the subject matter which inspires students’ curiosity and development of a lifelong learner.
- They demonstrate a deep personal interest in building caring relationships with students, mentoring, and building student success.
Submission Process and Deadline:
The annual deadline for this award is January 15 (due the following business day when falls on a weekend or holiday).
Nomination packets for this award must be submitted by the Divisional Dean, who may establish an earlier deadline. The Divisional Dean will submit the nomination packet as a single PDF attachment via email to UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu. The PDF file should be named as follows: YearUnrathTchng_LastFirst (e.g., 2026UnrathTchng_TigerTruman)
Please contact us at UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu with any questions.
Past Recipients
- 2025 – Amanda Durbak, Biological Science