Teaching Awards

Candidates must hold a continuing appointment at the associate professor/professor rank (tenure/teaching stream) in the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus).

The awards are made on the basis of continuing excellence in undergraduate/graduate teaching and other contributions to undergraduate/graduate education, with a focus on the past three years. Candidates should demonstrate excellence in the areas noted below. The nomination package should include relevant evidence (e.g. in the form of course evaluations, teaching materials, etc.) to demonstrate their contributions in these areas.

Instructional Practices: The nomination should provide evidence of the candidate’s teaching excellence in instructional practices in any teaching context (large and small classrooms, lab, online, in-the-field, etc.) which may include the ability to stimulate critical and analytical thinking in students, to create an environment conducive to learning, to provide an intellectually stimulating learning experience, and to deepen students’ understanding of the course material. Nominations should include a description of how the candidate incorporates reflective, scholarly and/or evidence-based pedagogical approaches in their teaching.

Course Design and/or Curriculum Development: The nomination should provide evidence of the candidate’s outstanding contributions in course design and/or curriculum development. This may include efforts that foster the ongoing renewal of courses and programs to address the evolving needs of students and/or those that support student learning or provide unique and challenging learning opportunities for students. It can include the development and design of new courses. It may also include the integration of research, active learning experiences, or opportunities for building connections to local, national and international communities.

1. Nomination Form

Candidates may be nominated by a Chair/Director or Principal, faculty member(s) or student(s). Nominators are asked to complete a nomination form that seeks information outlining how the nominee demonstrates excellence in instructional practices and course design/curriculum development. Students who wish to nominate an instructor should contact the Chair/Director or Associate Chair, Undergraduate in the instructor’s home department for support in completing the nomination form.

Outstanding Teaching Award Nomination Form (2022-23)​​

2. Materials from the Candidate

(a) Statement on Instructional Practices
A statement (1-2 pages) from the candidate should address how they approach their teaching and their interactions with students and the specific creative and innovative methods that are used (with reference to the relevant criteria listed above).

This might include a focus on in-class activities or teaching methods, efforts to engage students, efforts to encourage and provide opportunities for interaction amongst students, etc. The statement should also refer directly to the supporting evidence within the nomination package.

(b) Statement on Course and/or Curriculum Development

A statement (1-2 pages) from the candidate should describe specific creative and innovative course design/curriculum development efforts and how and why these have or will have an impact on student learning (with reference to the relevant criteria listed above). This might include a focus on assignment design, course modules or resources, in or out of class activities (e.g. community-engaged learning), writing intensive activities, the integration of teaching and research, etc. The statement should also refer directly to the supporting evidence within the nomination package.

(c) Statement on Course Evaluations/Feedback from Students [optional]

Candidates may wish to include a contextualizing narrative (maximum 1 page) that speaks to how they have responded to and integrated feedback from students (through course evaluations or other means). Please note: the selection committee will have access to the candidate’s course evaluations for the past three years.

(d) Supporting Evidence (maximum 30 pages)

Sample course materials (e.g. syllabi, resources, assignments, handouts, slides), materials describing curricular contributions and course development efforts.

3. Materials to be Provided by the Nominator/Unit

(a) Letter of support from Chair/Director/Principal.
Note: This is only required if the original nomination was submitted by a faculty member or student.

(b) Letters of support/comments from students and/or colleagues with whom the candidate has co-taught or worked on curricular initiatives (no more than four total).

(c) Commentary on the candidate’s course evaluations: The nominator/unit may wish to provide a brief (maximum 1 page) commentary on the candidate’s course evaluations from the past three years. The commentary may speak to trends in the data and/or contextualize the data in relation to other courses in the unit. Individual course evaluation reports should not be submitted with the nomination package; the Dean’s Office will provide the selection committee with access to these materials.

Submissions can be sent in hard copy c/o Alex Logue to the Dean’s Office or via email to a.logue@utoronto.ca.

• February 28, 2023 – Nomination packages due.
• April 1, 2023 – Recipients of the 2021-22 Outstanding Teaching Award, and their nominators, notified.

Up to five awards will be presented each year. A nominator may submit more than one nomination. The awards will be presented at a reception and award recipients will receive $2,500 and a commemorative certificate. Individuals may be nominated for an award any number of times, but may receive an award only once in five years.

2022

• Robert C. Austin, Associate Director, CERES; Professor, Teaching Stream, Centre for European, Russian & Eurasian Studies, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
• Robert Gazzale, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Economics
• Jason Harlow, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Physics
• Hang-Sun Kim, Associate Professor, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures
• Kate Neville, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and School of the Environment

2021

• Jennifer Harris, Associate Professor, Department for the Study of Religion
• Alex Hernandez, Associate Professor, Department of English
• Barbora Morra, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Chemistry

2020

• Jotaro Arimori, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of East Asian Studies
• Jessica D’eon, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Chemistry
• Alistair Dias, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Human Biology Program
• Gillian Hamilton, Associate Professor, Department of Economics
• Nicole Mideo, Associate Professor, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
• Andrea Wiliams, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Director, Writing-Integrated Teaching

2019

• Erol Boran, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures
• Franco Taverna, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Human Biology Program
• Mark S. Taylor, Professor, Department of Chemistry

2018

• Christine Lehleiter, Associate Professor, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures
• Dragana Obradovic, Associate Professor, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
• Sarah Wakefield, Associate Professor, Department of Geography & Planning

2017

• Ashley Bruce, Associate Professor, Department of Cell & Systems Biology
• Michelle Craig, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Computer Science
• Denise Cruz, Associate Professor, Department of English
• Tania Li, Professor, Department of Anthropology
• Michael Reid, Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Dunlap Institute

All candidates must have taught at least one course in the Faculty of Arts & Science (or one administered by an Arts & Science unit) in Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 term.

• Sessional Lecturer candidates must have been employed to teach at least one course on contracts of less than one year. Candidates should hold a CUPE 3902, Unit III appointment.
• Graduate Student candidates must have been employed to teach at least one course as a Sole Responsibility Course Instructor. Candidates should be current graduate students appointed in CUPE 3902, Unit I.

The awards recognize excellence in undergraduate education in classroom instruction, innovative teaching methods and student engagement, as evidenced by: the ability to develop understanding of the subject matter (which may include contributions in course design and student assessment), and the ability to create an engaging and rewarding learning experience for students.

The following materials are required for each nomination:

1. Nomination Form Candidates may be nominated by students (as individuals, or as groups such as classes or course unions), staff, faculty members, or Chairs/Directors/Principals. Nominators are asked to complete a nomination form that seeks information outlining how the candidate demonstrates excellence in classroom instruction, through the use of innovative teaching methods and in facilitating student engagement. Students who wish to nominate an instructor should contact the Chair/Director or Associate Chair, Undergraduate in the instructor’s home department for support in completing the nomination form.

Superior Teaching Award Nomination Form (2022-23)​​

2. Endorsement from the Chair/Director/Principal (if necessary)If the nomination is not submitted by the Chair/Director/Principal an endorsement (1-2 pages) should be provided at this stage.

3. Course evaluation summary reports for the course(s) for which they are being nominated

4. Letters of Support from students or co-instructors. Please limit the letters to no more than 3 or 4 in each category. Each letter should be no more than 1-2 pages.

5. Additional materials: The candidate may submit additional materials to support the nomination. These may include instructional materials, course syllabi, a statement of teaching philosophy, CV, etc. These materials must not exceed 30 pages in total.

Up to two awards in each category (Sessional Lecturer and Graduate Student Course Instructor) will be presented. A nominator may submit more than one nomination. The awards will be presented at a reception and award-winning instructors will receive $1,500 and a commemorative certificate. Individuals may be nominated for an award any number of times, but may receive an award only once.

Please direct any questions to Alex Logue (a.logue@utoronto.ca), Faculty Liaison Coordinator, Pedagogical Support. 

Nomination submission dates are still to be determined. Submissions can be via email to Alex Logue at a.logue@utoronto.ca.

• February 28, 2023 – Nomination packages due.
• April 1, 2023 – Recipients of the 2022-23 Superior Teaching Award, and their nominators, notified.

2022 

• Danyse Golick – Department of English
• Courtneay Hopper – Department of Anthropology and School of the Environment

2021

• C Dalrymple-Fraser — Department of Philosophy
• Matt Sourisseau — Department of Mathematics

2020

• Emma McClure, Department of Philosophy
• Alex Stringer, Department of Statistical Sciences

2019

• Barnabas Kirk, Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures
• Simon Lambek, Department of Political Science

2018

• Steven Coyne, Department of Philosophy

2017

• Parissa Moosavi, Department of Philosophy
• Anna Stainton, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures

2022

• Jessica Whitehead – Department of Italian Studies and Cinema Studies Institute
• Murat Umut Inan – Department of History

2021

• Shawn Micallef — University College
• Igor Shoikhedbrod —Trinity College, Ethics, Law & Society

2020

• Khalid Ahmed, African Studies Program, New College
• S. Trimble, Women & Gender Studies Institute

2019

• Siobhan O’Flynn, Canadian Studies Program, University College
• Emily Paradis, Urban Studies Program, Innis College
• Ramón A. Victoriano-Martínez, Caribbean Studies Program, New College

2018

• Spyridon Kotsovilis, Department of Political Science

2017

• Jonathan Korman, Department of Mathematics
• Kenneth Yip, Department of Cell & Systems Biology

Candidates must hold a continuing appointment in the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George campus), of at least the duration of the Fellowship requirements (3 years).

Courses developed through the OLA Fellowship are intended to benefit and serve the goals of academic units and must be approved by the Chair or Academic Director as part of the application process. Fellowship funding includes a 0.5 FCE course release funded by the Faculty; the unit leader must sign off on the proposed course release.

The Online Learning Academy Fellowship is a one-year commitment. A maximum of 5 Fellowships will be awarded per year.

Each Fellow will be expected to produce a fully online or hybrid course accessible to A&S students. The course can be a re-design of a typically in-person course, or a newly proposed course. In either case, the course in question will be subject to all required governance procedures including existing department-level curriculum review as well as divisional review via the Curriculum Committee. The course must be intended for offer in the relevant format for a minimum of three years, starting in the academic year after the Fellowship has ended.

The Online Learning Academy will support the efforts of the Fellows in designing their course. The Director of the Online Learning Academy and support staff will meet with all new Fellows as a group for a project kick-off meeting. Staff with expertise in online course design and educational technology will be available to Fellows throughout the year of their Fellowship to provide one-on-one support in all aspects of course design.  The Fellowship will conclude with a learning network event, which will also mark the beginning of the new Fellowship cohort.

Fellowships will commence July 1 of the year they are awarded. Post-Fellowship, Fellows will be invited to join the Online Learning Academy Advisory Committee for an initial period of one year, and to provide mentorship for the incoming cohort of Fellows.

Proposals for fully online and hybrid courses are eligible. Priority will be given to courses that are part of a first entry undergraduate degree program. 

Applications will be assessed based on how well-conceived and feasible the proposed course project is, and how well they integrate the priorities of the Faculty regarding: 

1. Instructional innovation and experimentation
2. Novel assessment strategies using digital methods and tools
3. Student support & engagement
4. Equity, access, diversity, and inclusion

For fully online courses, all course activities must be online, allowing a student to complete the course from a remote location. It may be a section of a course that is also offered on campus. All assessments must be online, with the possible exception of an in-person final exam, either on campus or at a remote location, to be coordinated in partnership with the Office of the Faculty Registrar. 

Proposals for hybrid courses will require substantial online components, a reduction of in-person class time of at least 30 percent (as per the University’s definition of a hybrid course), and redesign of both in-person and online content (for existing courses). Tests and final exams for hybrid courses may be held in person.

The following materials are required for each application:

1. Online Learning Academy Fellowship Application Form

Applicants are asked to fill out the linked Application Form. Applicants will be asked for:

• A)    Applicant Information
• B)    Course Information
• C)    Project Details, including:
  • a.    What motivated the need for this course development/renewal? Why have you chosen the proposed delivery mode?
  • b.    Please describe how the OLA Fellowship will assist in course development, specifically addressing issues related to:
    • a) assessment strategies
    • b) digital methods & tools
    • c) digital pedagogy
  • c.    In what ways will the OLA Fellowship help to enhance student experience in the course? How will the course development/renewal address issues of equity, diversity, access & inclusion?
  • d. The OLA Fellowship includes funding ($5000) to buy equipment, support the hiring of an RA, or attend professional development opportunities to support the project. How do you intend to use this funding?
• D)    Unit Approval 

2.    Letter of support from Chair/Director/PrincipalApplicants are asked to upload a letter of support from their Chair, Director or Principal as part of the online Application Form. 
Note: As the Fellowship includes a 0.5 FCE course release, this letter is a strict requirement. The letter of support should indicate an acknowledgement of this course release. 

Applications are due on Tuesday, February 28, please submit applications using the Online Learning Academy Fellowship Application Form. 

• February 28, 2023 – Application packages due
• April 3, 2023 – Recipients of the 2022-23  Online Learning Academy Fellowship, and their nominators, informed. 

Up to five fellowships will be awarded each year. Each Fellow will receive 0.5 FCE course release the year of their Fellowship. In addition, they will receive $5,000 to buy equipment, support the hiring of an RA, or engage in professional development opportunities to support their project work.

Please direct any questions to a.logue@utoronto.ca.

2022

• Krista Maxwell, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology