President solicits nominations for President's Teaching Scholars

President's Teaching Scholars for 2009

University of Colorado President Bruce D. Benson is soliciting faculty nominations for the 2010 President's Teaching Scholars, the university's highest recognition of teaching excellence.

All tenured faculty members who have taught at CU for five consecutive years are eligible for nomination, including clinical teaching track and School of Medicine faculty who are associate professors or professors. Chancellors, deans, departments and other faculty nominators are encouraged to nominate candidates, who must be teaching on their respective campus in the spring 2010 semester. The president's office will not accept self nominations.

A selection committee will evaluate applications based on past achievements and on furthering the goals of the President's Teaching Scholars Program, said program Director Mary Ann Shea.

"This designation is not an end-of-career-at-CU award, but rather membership in an active society of scholars and teachers," Shea said. "Scholars are a group of faculty from all campuses chosen not only for skill in their own teaching, but also for their promise of improving education for students, and enlarging educational possibilities across the four-campus university system."

In addition to an active commitment to teaching, the lifetime appointment recognizes substantial contributions to scholarly work in one's discipline or, in the case of a less senior scholar, indications of path-breaking contributions to his or her field, according to Shea.

"President's Teaching Scholars become part of a participatory, service-oriented and collegial community," she said. "Over time, the program has found that this group is composed of members who enjoy the opportunity, and make a commitment to interact, engage and grow with colleagues whose values, generosity of spirit and concerns about education are shared."

Those chosen for the designation receive a $3,000 stipend for each of the first two years, a one-time teaching development fund of $2,000, and an additional $2,000 to their base salary by the third year of their career as a President's Teaching Scholar.

Shea said ideal candidates for the President's Teaching Scholars Program should have the following attributes:

• Enthusiasm and vitality in teaching and for learning
• Evidence of continuous growth and leadership in a field of study
• Effective ability to design and redesign courses to produce intellectual challenge
• Active and effective engagement in advising students and in guiding student learning and research projects
• Encouragement of intellectual interests in beginning students and/or of greater achievement with advanced students
• Highest level of responsiveness to, and understanding of, a diverse student body
• Willingness and ability to participate actively in the President's Teaching Scholars Program, and to continue working on program initiatives with other scholars

Learn more about how to prepare a candidate's nomination dossier, project guidelines and program contacts by visiting the President's Teaching Scholars Web site.