Outstanding Teaching Award

Continuing a 50-year tradition, the MTSU Foundation will fund awards again this year.

Past Recipients

Click here for a complete listing of past recipients.

Guidelines for Nomination and Submission

  1. Faculty, students, and alumni may nominate a faculty member by sending an email to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (cheryl.torsney@mtsu.edu), copying Angie Price (angie.price@mtsu.edu) with “Outstanding Teaching Award Nomination” in the subject line and a brief rationale in the body of the message by Monday, October 17.  Faculty must be nominated by individuals in at least two of these three categories:  faculty members, students, and alumni.
  2. Only full-time faculty who have worked at MTSU for at least four years are eligible to apply.
  3. Previous award winners may be nominated five years after receiving an OTA.
  4. Nominees must use the provided OTA ePortfolio shell in D2L (available by November 11) and will be evaluated based on the materials uploaded to their ePortfolio. (Candidates should let the LT&ITC know if they need training to upload documents in D2L.)
  5. The completed ePortfolio is due by the close of business on Monday, March 13, 2023.  No revisions or additions may be made following the deadline.

Required ePortfolio Application Materials

Outlined below are the materials to be considered for this award. Failure to folow these requirements will result in elimination from consideration. An ePortfolio shell will guide nominees in submitting the following required materials:

  1. Cover page/home page with the following information
    • Nominee’s name and title (ex: Jane Doe, Ph.D., Associate Professor)
    • Department
    • MTSU contact information
  2. Teaching curriculum vitae
    • Past four years of relevant teaching information only. Nominees should not submit a complete CV.
  3. Statement of teaching excellence: A three-to-five page statement highlighting excellence in teaching in relation to the award criteria.
  4. Student evaluations from all courses taught over the last four years. When possible, results should be displayed in comparison to appropriate cohort groups (i.e., department, college, and university).
  5. Supporting materials/artifacts as noted in the Criteria for Evaluation (below)
  6. Required letters of support to be sent directly to Angie.Price@mtsu.edu by the due date
    • Letters of support from one student and one alumni. No more than one submission from each of these categories will be accepted.
    • Letters of support from two faculty familiar with the candidate’s teaching, advising, mentoring, and/or curriculum development. One letter must be from a peer who has personally observed the candidate’s teaching. No more than two faculty letters will be accepted.

Criteria for Evaluation

Each applicant’s statement of excellence and/or the teaching CV should address the following areas:  

  1. Teaching improvement and innovation: Demonstration of teaching advancement and creativity.
    1. Clear reflection on and growth in teaching improvement. Examples: workshop attendance, course and/or program redesign and development, grants for course improvement, addressing previous student and peer feedback. (Upload one supporting document)
    2. Clear evidence of innovative teaching practices. Examples: teaching tools and media, course materials, teaching techniques, creative and engaging student projects/assignments. (Upload one supporting document)
  2. Teaching, service, and mentorship: Demonstration of impact beyond the classroom.
    1. Clear contributions to broader teaching community. Examples: workshops presented, invited lectures, peer mentoring, published and presented scholarship of teaching and learning. (Upload one supporting document)
    2. Clear commitment to mentorship of students. Examples: career guidance, thesis/dissertations advising, individual projects, advising student organizations. (Upload one supporting document)
  1. Student engagement and achievement: Demonstration of successful teaching and learning environment.
    1. Evidence of student involvement in learning process and classroom expertise. Examples: student and peer feedback, other teaching awards, the required solicited letters of support from students, alumni, and faculty, Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs). The four letters outlined above are emailed directly to the Angie Price (angie.price@mtsu.edu) by the students and faculty preparing the letters. They are not uploaded into D2L by the applicant.
    2. Evidence of student accomplishments and learning. Student presentations, learning outcomes, pre- and post-tests demonstrating learning, certifications, student job attainment/advancement. (Upload one supporting document)

Final Selection

The University Outstanding Teaching Award Committee will meet and rank the candidates. The committee chair will send the ranked list to the Provost and share with the MTSU Office of Development. Awards will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty meeting.