1981-1982 Senate Document #33 (Second Revision) Senate Approved 2/18/82 FWC Document #1 Distinguished Teacher Award Preface The concept of a Distinguished Teacher Award carries with it certain assumptions, among which are: 1) Teaching is an art; no exact measurement or measuring devices can ever assure an objective determination of successful teaching since no definition of good teaching is every wholly accurate or even desirable; effectiveness in the classroom carries with it the indefinable factors of character, personality, enthusiasm, and creativity. 2) The selection of an outstanding teacher by one's peers and one's students will always involve a dgree of subjectivity; there can be no guarantee that in any given year, the award will recognize the single best instructor on campus; instead, the award will recognize one outstanding teacher; over a period of years, the probability is that a variety of good instructors from various fields will have an equal opportunity for recognition. 3) The selection process requires trust in our colleagues; we must assume that those on the Review Committee will act professionally and in the best interest of the faculty and the university. 4) In spite of inherent flaws in attempting to offer an award where total objectivity cannot be guaranteed, such an award is highly desirable; merit always deserves recognition, and the university benefits from the public acknowledgement that we value and emphasize quality in the classroom. 5) This procedure should be reviewed in the Spring of 1987. STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR SELECTING A DISTINGUISHED TEACHER Each year the faculty and students of UNCA will participate in selecting one instructor to honor for his or her outstanding teaching abilities. This award shall recognize creative and innovative classroom performance, as well as a personal dedication and commitment to teaching which has inspired and motivated students. I. Nominations A) Any full-time faculty member (Lecturer, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor) shall be eligible, except for those faculty who have previously won the award. B) During the Spring Semester of each year, the Chairman Page 2 of the Faculty Senate shall send a letter to all faculty and all students calling for written nominations. The Alumni office, through its publications, shall encourage nominations from alumni. C) Letters of nomination must be signed. Student letters must indicate their class (Soph., Jr.). All letters shall detail reasons for the nomination. II. The Review Committee A) A review Committee will be formed in the following manner: 1) In the first year, the Faculty Senate will select six faculty members, two from each area of study, at least three of whom shall be tenured faculty, to serve the following terms: 2 members for one year 2 members for two years 2 members for three years 2) Each year the Faculty Senate shall elect two other faculty members, one of whom may be non-tenured, to serve one-year terms. After 10 years from the date of this committee's initial formation, the Faculty Senate shall elect committee members from the list of previous award winners. B) In the event that one or more of the members of this committee shall prove to be one of the nominees for the award, he or she will remove himself from the committee and the Faculty Senate will select a replacement. C) In future years, the winners of the Distinguished Teacher Award shall serve as members of the committee for three-year terms. D) In the event that an award winning instructor cannot complete a three-year term, the Faculty Senate shall select a tenured faculty member for an interim replacement. E) The Review Committee is to consult with students during the evaluation process. F) Each year the committee shall invite a respected faculty member from another college or university to sit in on the final review of nominees and to voice his or her judgment. III. Selection & Announcement of Award Winner A) The Review Committee shall meet in the Spring Semester to seriously evaluate all nominations and, in its considered judgment, select the one faculty member from the nominations, Page 3 if any, to be honored. The decision of the committee shall be final. B) The committee will notify the VCAA of the selection and and he in turn will announce it publicly at Spring Graduation Exercises. IV. Value of the Award A) The Distinguished Teacher Award shall include both a citation for outstanding teaching, plus a monetary award. It is hoped that an industry or foundation can be found to support this award. B) Those who receive this award shall be listed in the UNCA Catalog.