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University Awards for Teaching Excellence

List of Past Winners of the Vice-Chancellor's Award

This page includes a list of previous CSU Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence Winners

Aim

To recognise and encourage excellence in teaching and to acknowledge the central place of teaching and learning in the University.

Nature

One award may be made annually to an individual and a team nominated by a Faculty as the Faculty award winner. Faculty award winners receive $800 and the Vice-Chancellor's Award winner receives $2000.Only one award will be presented to a team as a whole. Faculty and Vice-Chancellor's Award winners will be featured on the Faculty website and the award will be noted on their personal file and in the University handbook for a period of three years. Awards will be presented at the graduation ceremony in the semester following receipt of the award.

Eligibility

All currently tenured and contracted members of academic staff who have held either a full time or fractional appointment of .5 or greater at the University for at least three years are eligible to be nominated. However, a team may include an active member who has less than three years service at CSU provided the team has been functioning for at least three years.

Nominations

Nominations must be made by two persons for Applications for University Awards for Teaching Excellence. One nomination must be from an academic peer and the other from a student or group of students (either current or former). If the nomination is from a former student(s), the student(s) must have been taught by the academic within the past three years. Self-nomination is no longer available for University Awards for Teaching Excellence. Nominees can be from all levels of teaching staff from Associate Lecturer through to Professor. Nominations can be for individual staff members or teaching teams. Nominees must accept their nomination in writing by completing the University Teaching Award Application form 2008. A team representative can accept the nomination on behalf of the team. The Application form is sent to the academic staff member’s Head of School.

Selection Criteria

From this year, the University Teaching Awards will closely correspond to the ALTC Awards particularly in regard to criteria. The criteria are:

1. Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn

Which may include: fostering student development by stimulating curiosity and independence in learning; contributing to the development of students’ critical thinking skills, analytical skills and scholarly values; encouraging student engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and motivating students through high-level communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

2. Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field

Which may include: developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching; demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives and expectations for student learning.

3. Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning

Which may include: integrating assessment strategies with the specific aims and objectives for student learning; providing timely, worthwhile feedback to students on their learning; using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies; implementing both formative and summative assessment; adapting assessment methods to different contexts and diverse student needs.

4. Respect and support for the development of students as individuals

Which may include: participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students; assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and achieve success in their courses; influencing the overall academic, social and cultural experience of higher education.

5. Scholarly activities that have influenced and enhanced learning and teaching

Which may include: showing advanced skills in evaluation and reflective practice; participating in and contributing to professional activities related to learning and teaching; coordination, management and leadership of courses and student learning; conducting and publishing research related to teaching; demonstrating leadership through activities that have broad influence on the profession.

In assessing nominations against the five selection criteria, the Selection Committee will take into account:

the extent to which the claims for excellence are supported by formal and informal evaluation;

extent of creativity, imagination or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments; and

The five selection criteria will be given equal consideration by the Selection Committee.

It is hoped that this correspondence will enable CSU applicants to extend their University applications into ALTC applications.

Selection committee - Vice Chancellor's Award

The selection committee for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award, known as the University Teaching Excellence Award Committee, is comprised of the Vice-Chancellor, as Presiding Officer and the University Learning and Teaching Committee. This committee will make a recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor for the Awards from the nominations received by the Faculties.

This Committee is comprised of:

Vice-Chancellor (or nominee) Presiding Officer
Members of the Learning and Teaching Committee:

*Director, Centre for Enhancing Learning and Teaching

Expectations of award recipients

Award recipients will be expected to make their teaching philosophies and/or practices more widely known throughout the University. For example, they may be invited to participate in seminars or presentations, write a paper, act as a resource person, or act as a mentor to their colleagues with respect to teaching. They will also be encouraged to apply for the ALTC Awards for Australian University Teaching.

DEADLINES IN 2008

Application to the School by Friday, 19 September 2008.

School nominations to respective Faculties by Friday, 3 October 2008.

Faculty nominations to Dr Derek Sequeira, Manager, Evaluation Unit by Friday, 24 October 2008.

University Teaching Excellence Award Committee meets by videoconference on Monday, 17 November 2008.

Applications

Applications for teaching awards are to be made on the application forms which are available by downloading the Application/Checklist & Guidelines form.

Need Assistance

Assistance to develop a teaching award application is available from:

   

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