The Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA)
Selection Process
The Distinguished Teaching Award selection committee, appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is chaired by a previous DTA recipient and includes at least three faculty members, a current student representative and an alumni representative. The committee follows a process, in short: after reviewing the nomination letters, the committee invites some or all nominees to submit a complete dossier of supporting materials. Based on consideration of dossiers, and criteria listed below a formal recommendation is made to the Vice Chancellor.
Criteria for Selection
Criteria have been developed to help identify exceptionally meritorious teaching. Such teaching:
- Exceeds the highest standards
- Serves as a model of inspired and challenging teaching
- Has led students to academic and personal success
- Stimulates and supports active and continuous learning
- Inspires and cultivates excellence in the achievements of all students
- Exemplifies openness to a broad range of ethical and intellectual inquiry
These criteria are met in a variety of ways. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Development of innovative teaching methods
- Applying effective and timely ways of assessing student learning to improve instruction as well as learning
- Incorporating current scholarship into course content
- Integration of multiple disciplines into one's teaching
- Challenging and expanding traditional ways of knowing
- Deepening multicultural understanding
- Being an accessible and effective mentor outside the classroom
- Finding ways of enriching clinical experiences
- Offering independent studies and internships that consistently stimulate, inspire, and move beyond conventional expectations
- Demonstrating leadership in curriculum development within the teacher's own course offerings and at the program and cross-program levels