General Education Distinguished Teaching Award

The General Education Program is proud of the accomplishments and commitments of the faculty who support the core curriculum of the university. Each year, in recognition of superlative achievement in the area of teaching, the Program gives a Distinguished Teaching Award to a General Education faculty member. The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 honorarium. In permanent recognition, the recipient’s name will be added to a plaque displayed in the University Studies Office. The recipient will be invited to give a presentation during the following academic year.

Eligible Candidates include:
All faculty, including both full-time and adjunct, teaching in General Education during the 2006-2007 academic year.

Nominations for the General Education Distinguished Teaching Award will be accepted from students, colleagues, department heads, and Cluster Coordinators.

Nominations must be received by October 22, 2007
Nominations should be sent to the Dean of University Studies in the form of a letter (maximum 1000 words) addressing the candidate’s abilities as a teacher, particularly in light of the interdisciplinary and interconnected nature of General Education courses. The letter should address the quality of the nominees teaching ability based on

Their impact on student learning and
Their ability to help students make interdisciplinary connections.

Upon receipt of a letter of nomination, the Dean’s Office will invite each nominee to submit electronic copies of the following: vita, letter of support from his or her department head or director, and relevant supporting materials (including but not limited to items such as syllabi, evaluations, letters, etc.). Electronic copies can be emailed to gened@jmu.edu. If materials are in hard copy form, two copies must be submitted. The Award Selection Committee will evaluate all materials and select the award recipient.

The Award Selection Committee will be composed of five General Education faculty members and one student. The Dean of University Studies will attend the first meeting to present the charge. The Committee has the option to select a chair or co-chairs from its membership.

Faculty Membership:

One General Education faculty member from each of the five clusters.

Student Membership:

One undergraduate student to be named by the SGA.

Selection/Judging Process:
The Award Selection Committee will examine the letters of nomination and nominees’ supporting materials for evidence of the nominees’ impact on student learning and their ability to help students make interdisciplinary connections. The top nominees will then be interviewed by the Committee. The Committee will make its recommendation to the Dean of University Studies by December 14, 2007. The Dean will notify the award recipient.

The Human Community at James Madison University

General Education Distinguished Teaching Award