The University Teaching Awards honor faculty and graduate students who show exemplary commitment to their teaching craft. Award recipients are leaders in their disciplinary pedagogy, curricular innovation, and commitment to student success.
Each fall semester, a Call for Nominations is sent to Deans, Department Heads, and Regional Campus Deans, who can nominate one individual in each of the four award categories. Award recipients will be announced and celebrated at a reception in April where recipients receive a monetary stipend and a medallion that represents their teaching excellence.
University Teaching Fellow
The Teaching Fellow Award is a prestigious career honor that celebrates those who embody the highest standards of teaching excellence at UConn. Recipients of this award have consistently excelled as outstanding educators who foster student learning and create inclusive teaching environments. University Teaching Fellows are highly regarded by colleagues both within and beyond the University as exemplary educators. Their work reflects a sustained commitment to research-based teaching, best practices, and a strong record of contributions to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
Nominees must be full-time faculty with at least five consecutive years of service at the University.
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Teaching Innovation Award
The Teaching Innovation Award honors imaginative and impactful advancements in teaching, learning strategies, and assessment methods. Recipients of this award are recognized by their peers for their pedagogical curiosity, commitment to active experimentation, and groundbreaking contributions to education. They have implemented novel approaches, technologies, or methodologies in the learning environment that deepen learning and student engagement.
Nominees must be full-time faculty members with at least three consecutive years of service at the University.
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Outstanding Adjunct Awards
The Outstanding Adjunct Award recognizes adjunct faculty who have demonstrated exceptional teaching effectiveness, fostering high levels of student learning and engagement. Award recipients are celebrated by their department and campus colleagues for their unwavering dedication to student success and their significant contributions to the University’s learning community.
Nominees must have completed a minimum of three semesters of service at the University.
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Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award honors graduate teaching assistants and instructors of record who demonstrate exceptional dedication and effectiveness in the classroom or laboratory. Nominees for this award are distinguished by their exemplary instructional abilities, outstanding interpersonal skills, and meaningful contributions to enhancing instructional programs, fostering student success, and promoting engagement.
All Graduate Teaching Assistants and Instructors of Record are eligible for nomination, highlighting their vital role in advancing the University’s educational mission.
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