Millersville University, Faculty Senate
Attachment #1
Faculty Senate Minutes
February 7, 2006

FINAL DRAFT

Millersville University Educator of the Year Award

The award to be given annually to four faculty members (one from each school and one non-school) in recognition of sustained outstanding teaching to include counseling, mentoring, and advising 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 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 and program directors will be involved in announcing the call for nominations to their students and faculty members.

Eligibility for the Award:

All full-time regular tenure-track and permanent part-time faculties are eligible for this award.

Award Selection Committee:

The Chair of the Faculty Senate will notify the Senate of a slate of nominees for the selection committee. The selection committee will consist of seven members (including students, alumni and emeriti) whose affiliations are distributed throughout the four divisions. The committee will be selected by a Faculty Senate standing committee. The members of the committee will select a chair from among the membership

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 committee will announce its decision to Senate by the last meeting in March of the year the award is to be presented.

Announcement of the Award

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


Millersville University Educator of the Year Award

Criteria for Selection

Outstanding teaching 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


Millersville University Educator of the Year Award
Nomination Form

Deadline for Submission: November 1

Nominee's Name:

Nominee's Department:

Your Name:

Your Department/Major/
Minor/Certificate Program:

Your Year in School:

Your Position:

Please provide a response for the questions in a manner that is concise but detailed. Specific examples of teaching and mentoring are most helpful to the selection committee. Please keep in mind that your submission, properly understood, is an argument for honoring your nominee for this award.

  1. How does your nominee serve as a role model to students and/or other faculty members?
  2. How does your nominee generate enthusiasm for and inspire increased interest in his/her discipline? How does your nominee engage and hold student interest?
  3. How does your nominee distinguish him/herself from other colleagues? What is it about your nominee that makes him/her so exceptional that he/she merits the description of educator of the year?
  4. How does your nominee demonstrate an understanding for students' needs and a commitment to the university community?


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