Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award

Professional & Student Awards

Awards Open:
November 1, 2023
Awards Close:
February 16, 2024

Questions

If you have questions, email 
Brianna Smallman.

The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recognizes the distinguished teaching of a graduate faculty member.

One award is presented annually, with nominations limited to one per graduate program. Past recipients of the award are eligible for nomination if five or more years have elapsed since they received the award. All prizes will be announced in spring of 2024.

Eligibility

To assist in identifying award nominees, the following criteria are suggested:

  • The nominee's demonstrated excellence in the classroom and laboratory, as reflected in course-instructor survey evaluations and letters of recommendation from both students and colleagues
  • The nominee's distinctive contribution in mentoring graduate students and helping them achieve their goals in academic or professional careers
  • The nominee's commendable track record of supervising and participating in students' thesis, report, recital and dissertation committees

Nominations

The Graduate School's Online Awards System

Nominations must be submitted using the Graduate School’s online awards system. Nominations must be initiated by academic deans, department chairs, program directors or graduate advisers.

To successfully complete the online application, please gather the following documents:

  • Nomination Letter: A letter from the academic dean, department chair, program director or graduate adviser briefly explaining the rationale behind nominating the individual
  • Letters of Support: Three letters highlighting the nominee's unique approach to teaching in organized classes and thesis, report, recital, dissertation or treatise supervision. The selection committee will be interested in the distinctive contribution that each nominee has made toward helping graduate students achieve their goals in academic or professional careers. These should be categorized as follows:
    • One from a current student of the nominee
    • One from a former student
    • One from a colleague
  • Summary Sheet: Provide a summary sheet detailing graduate courses taught in the last three years, including enrollments, and overall averages of course-instructor survey evaluations. Course syllabi from graduate courses taught in the last three years
  • Course Syllabi: Include syllabi from graduate courses taught in the last three years
  • List of Supervised Theses/Reports/Recitals or Dissertations/Treatises: Catalog a list of master’s theses/reports/recitals or doctoral dissertations/treatises supervised by the nominee. Include a summary demonstrating the number of students supervised, graduated, and job placement information if available
  • Committee Service: Present a list of thesis/report/recital or dissertation/treatise committees on which the nominee has served. Include a summary showing the number of students involved
  • Curriculum Vitae: Include the nominee's curriculum vitae

These documents collectively form a comprehensive nomination package for consideration by the selection committee. If you have any queries or require further guidance, please feel free to reach out.

2024 Award Recipient

Luisa Nardini headshot

Luisa Nardini

The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recipient in 2024 is Luisa Nardini, a Butler School of Music professor in the College of Fine Arts.