• Karen Miller, 2019 distinguished teaching award recipient
  • Rob Proulx, 2018 recipient of the Distinguished Teaching award and Barbara Keinath, presenter.
  • Mark Huglen, 2017 recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, presented by Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson
  • Paul Aakre, 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award, presented by Barbara Keinath
UMC Home / UMC Awards / Distinguished Teaching Award

Distinguished Teaching Award

A Distinguished Teaching Award was established in 1982 at the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to teaching. The award symbolizes UMC's commitment to excellence in teaching.  Again this year, one cash award of $500 will be presented to the award recipient along with an individual plaque.  The recipient's name will also be added to the plaque located in the Sahlstrom Conference Center honoring all previous recipients.

Questions should be directed to Terrill Bradford, Faculty Awards Committee Chair, at: tbradfor@crk.umn.edu.

Eligibility

Eligibility

  1. Includes all full-time UMC faculty/staff engaged in a minimum of 50 percent time teaching at UMC and have completed three or more years prior to the nomination of the award.
  2. Nominations will be accepted from students, colleagues, alumni, UMC clubs or organizations, academic units, and/or individual faculty and staff. Please see Nomination Procedure section below for the guidelines in submitting nominations.
  3. Previous recipients are eligible after five years have passed from the last time the award was received.
  4. The files of unsuccessful nominees will remain active for two additional years for later consideration.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria

Selection of the award recipient will be based on the documents that support each nomination. The following items will be considered:

Teaching Effectiveness

  • Use of current, innovative, and effective teaching practices.
  • Ability to stimulate students to be successful academically.
  • Course material presented is current.

Student Development

  • Success in helping students develop their leadership and social skills.
  • Availability and willingness to help students.

Educational Leadership

  • Contributions to teaching through seminars, articles, and other professional activities.
  • Educational contributions to UMC.

Review of all nominations and selection of the Distinguished Teaching Award recipient is the responsibility of the Faculty Awards Committee.

Nomination Procedure

Nomination Procedure

Nominations should be in the following format in a folder and should include the following information:

1. Letter of nomination (submitted by the nominator) summarizing the nominee’s qualifications as they relate to the Evaluation Criteria (see next section).

2. Vitae with:

    • departmental, collegiate, and university committee involvement;
    • publication record;
    • courses taught;
    • course development;
    • advising assignments;
    • list of teaching related materials which have been developed.

    3. Evidence of improvement of teaching.

    4. Peer or colleague evaluations (maximum of three letters supporting the nomination; letters should address items listed under Evaluation Criteria). Note: Letters will be solicited by an individual other than the nominee.

    5. Alumni evaluations (maximum of three letters supporting the nomination; letters should address items listed under Evaluation Criteria). Note: Letters will be solicited by an individual other than the nominee.

    Evaluation Procedure and Important Dates

    Evaluation Procedure and Important Dates

    Review of all nominations and selection of the Distinguished Scholar Award recipient is the responsibility of the Faculty Awards Committee.

    Date
    October 15 - November 19, 2021 Committee begins seeking nominations
    November 20, 2021 Nominations cease
    February 18, 2022 Completed nomination materials due to committee chair
    April 15, 2022 Committee meets to vote on candidates
    April 22, 2022 Winners are forwarded to Chris Winjum
    May 10, 2022 UMC Faculty/Staff Day - Recognition of recipient with presentation of plaque

    Questions should be directed to Terrill Bradford, Faculty Awards Committee Chair - tbradfor@crk.umn.edu.

    Award Recipients

    Award Recipients

    Faculty & Staff Awards Day Photo Gallery