Outstanding teaching, counseling, and advising comes in many forms and thus it is difficult to list all the characteristics that would be worthy of an award. The criteria listed here are intended to be suggestions. The nominations should describe the outstanding characteristics and achievements of the nominee as appropriate.

Outstanding Educator of the Year

• Instill intellectual curiosity, a desire to learn, and the importance of life-long learning.
• Stimulate learning through teaching, advising, and/or counseling, modeling of scholarship, involving students in the learning process, expressing genuine concern for the student as a whole, setting of high standards, enthusiastic and passionate about their field.
• Demonstrate success and excellence through reference to the achievement of students.
• Encourage and demonstrate ethical behavior, integrated view of life, personal responsibility and integrity, leadership, clear and critical thinking, and civic engagement.
• Influence on the way other colleagues teach, advise and/or counsel.
• Have an effect beyond the Millersville University community.
• Serious about academic excellence and meaningful life experiences of the students.
• Available to students, making them feel welcome, and respected.
• Skillful in encouraging problem-solving techniques by helping students to think through issues and make decisions.

The award to be given annually to four faculty members (one from each school and one non-school) in recognition of sustained outstanding teaching, counseling, and mentoring (add counseling or is counseling captured by the use of the term mentoring?) of the undergraduate and graduate students at Millersville University.

Award Details:

1. Faculty members can receive this award no more frequently than once every ten years.
2. There will be no monetary reward associated with this award.
3. The award will consist of a plaque along with the faculty member's picture displayed in a common area, and a plaque (or an engraved piece of glassware for more lasting value) given to the faculty member.
4. The award will be presented annually at the May commencement ceremony or during a separate ceremony with press coverage. The award can be publicized on television through programs such as Channel 8's Learning Matters.
5. The recipient would be asked to share expertise and knowledge with other faculty members (e.g., maybe a special session at the Scholarship Social or a special session through the Center for Academic Excellence, participation at the New Faculty Orientation).
6. A call for nominations would be sent to the university community through E-mail and campus mail. Departments will be involved in announcing the call for nominations to their students and faculty members.

All full-time regular tenured faculties are eligible for this award.

Award Selection Committee:

The selection committee will consist of two to three alumni and two to three faculty emeriti, and one or two students? The members of the committee will select a chair from among the membership. The committee will be selected by the Faculty Senate?

Selection Criteria:

The Award Selection Committee will make its selection based on the materials provided by the nominators (supporting letter), along with other materials provided by the nominees and their respective department chairs or program directors.

Nominations:

Any member of the university, including faculty, staff, administration, and students, may submit a nomination for this award. The nominations may also come from a School Council. The nominations will be accepted at the beginning of the Fall semester. The deadline for nominations is November 1. All nominations must use the nominations form, and include a supporting letter from the nominator. The letter should specifically address the following.

1. Does the nominee involve students actively in the learning process?
2. Does the nominee synthesize complex concepts and bodies of knowledge into well-communicated material?
3. Is the nominee approachable to students through fostering an environment of personal and professional concern?
4. Does the nominee serve as a role model to both students and fellow faculty members at the departmental, programmatic and University levels and with the larger communities with which he/she comes into contact in scholarly, personal, and professional efforts?
5. Is the nominee committed to what is going on not only within his/her department, but also throughout the University, thereby helping students take advantage of all available opportunities for students?

   Nominees and their respective department chairs and/or program directors will be notified before the end of the fall semester (so as to allow the nominee ample time to provide supporting materials). The nominee and the respective department chair will be asked at this time to provide supporting materials. The supporting materials can include, but are not limited to, student evaluations, peer reviews of teaching, testimonials from current and former students, and any instructional materials developed by the nominee. The deadline for submission of the supporting materials will be February 20.

Committee's Recommendation:

The selection committee will forward (or do we still want to change this to announce? I left this since we have decided this award to be sponsored by the Faculty Senate) their recommendations to the Faculty Senate by March 15.

Announcement of the Award

The award will be announced at the May commencement ceremony or a separate ceremony?