Office of Academic Affairs

Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award

Purpose:
This Award recognizes and honors exceptional efforts in the education field. This award highlights the achievements of teachers who play a vital role in the shaping of students' lives.

Award:
An award of a Crystal Apple is presented at a public ceremony followed by a reception honoring awardees.

Eligibility:
Nominees must have an academic appointment with four or more years of teaching service at UM-St. Louis.

Criteria:
Nominees must show evidence consistent with the priorities and goals outlined in the UM-St. Louis Action Plan, demonstrating:

  • Innovative and successful teaching practices.
  • Leadership and high visibility in the local community.

Submission of Materials and Format:
All nominations must include the following materials.

  • Cover page with name, position, academic address of nominee and nominator.
  • Table of contents.
  • Nomination letter.
  • Nominee’s curriculum vitae (no more than three pages).
  • List of courses taught and the number of students in each as well as other teaching and advising activities during the preceding four years.
  • Syllabi from the nominee’s courses.
  • Nominee’s personal philosophy of teaching and the ways this philosophy is demonstrated in practice (no more than five pages). The nominee may want to include the following in his/her personal philosophy statement:
    • Effective techniques developed to assess student learning and provide feedback.
    • Description of a newly created course or a revised curriculum.
    • Concrete examples of effective mentoring techniques.
    • Effective teaching techniques shared with other teachers.
    • Steps taken to extend the learning process beyond the classroom.
    • Creative ways teaching draws upon one’s research or public service.
    • Contributions to peer discussion of teaching and learning and/or class design through publications, presentations, Web-based resources, etc.
  • Letters of support from current or former students, peers, administrators and individuals in the community (maximum of ten).
  • Examples of successful teaching practices including:
    • Summary of methods of evaluating teaching activity including: student-generated teaching evaluations, evaluations of teaching effectiveness by peers, and results of assessment of student learning.
    • Course syllabi from three representative courses that demonstrate creative and effective teaching methods. Letters from faculty peers and mentors that document innovative and effective teaching strategies. Include at least one letter from a colleague invited to observe in the faculty member’s classes. Include a statement explaining how the individuals were selected to write the letters.
  • Other evidence.

Nomination Procedure:
The Committee requires submission through electronic format. These nominations should be in MS Word or pdf format, and should be emailed to the Senate office (senate@umsl.edu) no later than 5 pm on the deadline. In addition, one paper version of the nomination must be sent to the chair of the committee.

Deadline for Submission:
June 30, 2008 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for submission of nomination and completed materials packet.

Previous Award Winners:
2007 - 2008 Carole Murphy, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
2006 - 2007 Jennifer Siciliani, Affiliate Associate Professor, Psychology
2005 - 2006 Gwen Moore, Senior Lecturer, College of Business Administration
2004 - 2005 Alan Heisel, Assistant Professor, Communication
2003 - 2004 Harvey Chiles, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Teaching and Learning
2002 - 2003 David Robertson, Professor, Political Science
2001 - 2002 Thomas Patton, Professor, Art and Art History
2000 - 2001 Jerry Cooper, Professor, History
1999 - 2000 Allan Wagner, Associate Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
1998 - 1999 Helene Sherman, Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning