NSM Graduate Teaching Assistant Award - Nomination Process
Background
The NSM Graduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes outstanding graduate teaching assistants (TAs) teaching courses in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM).
Up to three graduate TAs will receive the award. Each award includes $1,000 and recognition at an awards event and on the NSM website at the end of the spring semester. Nominees may teach lecture, laboratory or field courses.
Eligibility
Nominees must be current NSM graduate students in good standing, including satisfactory degree progress and GPA, and must have taught at least two semesters in NSM as teaching assistants.
Who May Nominate
Nominations may be made by:
- Department chairs
- TA supervisors
- Instructors of record
- Students taught by the nominated graduate student
Required Elements for Nomination
Nomination materials should be submitted as a single PDF and include:
- Curriculum Vitae: A current one- to three-page CV listing courses taught, including the nature of each course (e.g., laboratory or lecture), as well as course development and/or teaching innovation in addition to research accomplishments.
- Teaching Philosophy Statement: A one-page teaching philosophy statement. Samples of innovative teaching practices are encouraged, such as links to videos or materials, documents, prototypes or other methods of conveying the practice.
- Teaching Evaluations: Teaching evaluations from previous semesters taught in NSM. Nominees may be contacted in April to provide teaching evaluations from the current semester.
- Letters of Recommendation: At least three letters of recommendation should be provided, including one from the nominating individual. One letter should be from the teaching supervisor, instructor of record, department chair or TA coordinator. An additional two to three letters should be from students taught by the nominee as a TA.
- Teaching Schedule: The nominee’s teaching schedule for the current semester for observation by the awards committee.
Application materials should use at least 1-inch margins and no more than six lines per inch.
Nomination Deadline and Submission
Nomination packets are typically due in mid-March. Materials should be submitted as a single PDF to Jeremy May, associate dean for graduate studies, at jmay@uh.edu.
Selection Process
The Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards will be evaluated by faculty and graduate students from each NSM department. Evaluation criteria include teaching development, experience, student evaluations, teaching observations and letters of recommendation.
The awards committee will prescreen applications to identify the five to 10 most competitive nominees and contact those nominees to schedule teaching observations. After considering all aspects of the nominations and ranking the candidates, the committee will make recommendations to the dean of NSM for final award decisions.
Recognition
Award recipients will be recognized at the NSM Faculty Recognition Luncheon, a departmental awards event or the NSM Graduate Student Morning Break breakfast.
Additional Information
Questions about the NSM Graduate Teaching Assistant Award may be directed to Jeremy May, associate dean for graduate studies, at jmay@uh.edu.