University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Program
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: March 21, 2008
Goals
The principal purpose of the University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Program is to promote excellence in teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As part of its commitment to teaching excellence, the University seeks to recognize its University Distinguished Teacher/Scholars and draw upon their talents. This Program honors and supports outstanding faculty members who will take an active role in enhancing teaching and learning on this campus. Applicants and nominees must already have received significant recognition of teaching effectiveness, e.g., a campuswide or national teaching award. Applicants and nominees must also have a distinguished record of scholarship, research, or creative activity. University Distinguished Teacher/Scholars are individuals willing to commit some of their time to enhancing instruction in a way that will make a difference to the University and its students. Each applicant/nominee should propose a specific activity that will foster that goal. This activity is envisioned as a one-year enterprise, but the title of University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar is permanent throughout the recipient's appointment at Illinois.
The objective of the University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Program is to offer talented faculty members not only recognition, but an opportunity to engage in an in-depth analysis of the craft and art of teaching, consider new approaches, and put their insights to work in ways that will benefit significantly their students and the campus community. This program is intended to have a substantial impact on teaching on this campus. Thus, proposals should be oriented toward serving the campus at large.
Activities
Applicants should submit a proposed plan of activity. The following examples of possible proposals should not be considered exhaustive; innovative proposals are encouraged. Past activities have included coordinating a series of presentations or workshops by exemplary teachers or seminars in which the University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar facilitates a dialogue regarding the scholarship of teaching and learning; an investigation into the scholarship of teaching and learning in higher education and presentation of findings to the entire campus community; or observing and interviewing faculty across disciplines who are considered thoughtful, effective teachers. Activities that would be considered part of a professor's normal responsibilities, such as revision of the professor's courses, implementing course software, mentoring, or peer observation, are not eligible for this program.
Programmatic proposals regarding teaching assessment, development or enhancement should be directed to the Teaching Advancement Board (TAB) through the Provost's Initiative on Teaching Advancement (PITA) Program. While conducting their proposed activities, successful applicants will hold one-year appointments as faculty affiliates in the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), to enhance the visibility of the scholarship of teaching.
CTE will provide support as needed to assist the Distinguished Teacher/Scholars in their projects. Through this affiliation with CTE, they will participate in activities across the campus that promote excellence in teaching and improved learning. For example, they could present at the teaching academies, the annual Faculty Retreat, or other campus-wide teaching programs. They will join the community of current and past Distinguished Teacher/Scholars to provide feedback, collaboration, and assistance in planning sessions or events on teaching and learning.
Guidelines for Applications
Candidates should be tenured faculty or members of the instructional faculty with at least seven years of experience. There are two ways to apply for this award.
- Candidates may be nominated by a peer or an administrative officer. Each nominee will be invited to submit an application.
- Candidates may also apply directly for this award without being nominated.
All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m on March 21, 2008. Application packets can be sent to Dr. Peter Mortensen, Associate Provost Fellow, 217 Swanlund Administration Building, MC-304.
Selections will
be made by the Teaching Advancement Board and announced in late April. Successful
applicants will receive $7,500 as financial assistance for their proposed activities.
The candidate's unit will receive a minimum of $3,000 to use in support of instructional
enhancements in the unit, and up to an additional $4,000 if required to support
the activities of the University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar, for example, through
the assignment of a teaching/research assistant or a partial reduction in classroom
responsibilities.
None of this funding may be used for faculty salaries. Faculty
members are eligible to receive this award only once.The
application must include a curriculum vitae and a proposal of activities to be
undertaken. The proposed activities should be described in detail, but a maximum
of 2-3 pages is suggested. A brief budget must be included, detailing how the
award funds will be utilized. If not included in the vitae, the application should
include a complete listing of the applicant's instructional awards and significant
teaching contributions.
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Finally, the application should be endorsed by the unit
executive officer.The
criteria for evaluation of applications are as follows:
- Past recognition of teaching excellence as indicated by awards and other evidence
of significant teaching contributions;
- Record of scholarship, research,
and/or creative activity; and
- Quality of the proposed project. The goals of the proposed project should be clear and achievable within one year. The proposal should describe the plan in sufficient detail to permit careful evaluation. The project should be innovative and should benefit the entire campus.
Appointment
as a University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar cannot be combined with another
released-time appointment, such as a Center for Advanced Study Fellowship or Associate
appointment, Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities Fellowship, or Humanities
released time.
The primary goal of this program is for the individual to strengthen
instruction and learning on our campus, not to advance his or her own scholarship. Applicants
or nominators are invited to address questions to Peter Mortensen or TAB co-chairs Nan Goggin and Nick Petruzzi. The Board reserves the right
to work with applicants to refine the proposed activity.