Nominations now open for CLASS Excellence in Teaching Award

Overview:

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) annually presents an Excellence in Teaching Award to recognize facultycontributions to teaching and learning.  Separate awards are made in the areas of Social Sciences/Health and Humanities. Nominees must indicate the area for which they wish to be considered.

Award Description:  The award is for undergraduate and/or graduate teaching excellence over a period of years, not for one year's performance alone. Nominations are valid for up to two years. Winners receive a $3,000 award.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 25, 2026, 5 P.M.

Eligibility:

• Nominee must be in at least the third year of full-time faculty service in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
• Tenure track faculty, non-tenure track promotion-eligible faculty, and those who have continuously served as full-time instructors on annual contracts are all eligible (for instance, professors of practice and full-time lecturers).
• Previous winners, members of the selection committee, and associate deans are ineligible.

Anyone may nominate a CLASS faculty member for the award, but nomination packets must be submitted by the nominee’s department chair.  

Required nomination materials: 

1. Nomination letter.   This should include the nominator’s name, job title, and primary departmental affiliation.  Nomination letter should briefly explain why this person should receive a CLASS Excellence in Teaching Award.  (Maximum 2 pages)
2. Nominee’s Current CV (max 5 pages)
3. Nominee’s Teaching Philosophy Statement (maximum 2 pages) plus supporting materials of the nominee’s choosing (maximum 3 additional pages).
4. 3 recommendation letters (from students, colleagues, or alumni)
5. Complete teaching evaluations from prior 6 “long” semesters (or 5 for those in their 3rd teaching year).
6. Table showing numerical scores on questions 11 and 12 of the College Teaching Evaluation form (overall quality of course and overall quality of instructor) for every course for which evaluations are submitted and comparing these to departmental and college means.

Please compile all the above materials into a single PDF, with documents in the above order.  The file should be named as follows: LASTNAME_TEACHING_2026

The department chair makes the nomination by uploading the file this application portal: Application Form

Evaluation and Selection Process:

The selection committee will evaluate the teaching excellence of each nominee as demonstrated by these materials and determine the recipients of this year's award.

Questions may be addressed to Associate Dean Susan Scarrow sscarrow@uh.edu.