L&S Academic Staff Teaching Excellence Awards

This KB serves to provide a description of the L&S Academic Staff Teaching Awards, eligibility, instructions on the nomination process, and award criteria. Questions regarding the awards or the nomination process can be directed to teach.learn@ls.wisc.edu. This document was updated and reviewed for accessibility on November 7, 2025.

General Description

The College of Letters & Science honors outstanding instructional academic staff for their excellence in teaching undergraduate students. To recognize these contributions, the College offers five L&S Academic Staff Teaching Excellence Awards ($3,000) per year. 

Submit nominations by January 8, 2027: Link to be added.

Questions about the awards should be directed to Cathy Yu at teach.learn@ls.wisc.edu

Eligibility and Restrictions

Nominees must be:

  • Non-tenure track instructors employed by an L&S department with at least a 50% appointment. 

  • An instructor of record for L&S courses over at least 4 semesters (not including mentored research or independent study courses). 

Restrictions:

  • Staff are eligible for the L&S Academic Staff Teaching Excellence Awards once every 4 years.

  • Each department may nominate up to two staff members per year.

Award Criteria

The L&S Statement on Teaching Excellence describes what the college values in teaching and course design. Award recipients will excel in one or more of the following facets of effective instruction, as articulated in the statement:

  • Outcomes-based course design

  • Student-centered teaching

  • Evidence-based teaching practice

  • Inclusivity

  • Innovation

  • Reflection and growth

In addition, award recipients may demonstrate sustained effort to advance the following L&S teaching and learning priorities:

  • Promotion of the Liberal Arts

  • Support for the first year experience

  • Dedication to the Wisconsin Idea

Nomination Instructions and Materials

Nominations are made by the department chair/director or their delegate on behalf of the department following departmental norms for award nominations.

Nomination material should be in a single PDF submitted via the nomination form (link to be added).

Your PDF should include the following, in this order:

  1. An abbreviated (four pages maximum) curriculum vitae of the nominee. Limit the number of publications listed to 15, including those related to teaching.

  2. Three letters of support (three pages maximum each)

    1. A nomination letter from the department chair or their delegate

    2. A supporting letter from present or past student

    3. A supporting letter from a member of the university community

  3. A reflective statement by the nominee (two pages maximum) that highlights their accomplishments and area(s) of strength among the award criteria listed above.

 



Keywords:
"Teaching Excellence Awards" "Academic Staff" "Teaching Awards" academic staff teaching excellence awards 
Doc ID:
138689
Owned by:
Cathy Y. in L&S KB
Created:
2024-07-24
Updated:
2026-10-05
Sites:
L&S KB