Teaching Awards

The University of Calgary Teaching Awards for Educational Leadership (Individual) recognize the outstanding educational leadership of individuals that demonstrate formal or informal leadership in initiatives that have a significant and sustained impact on learning at a departmental, faculty and/or institutional level. There will be two awards available annually:

• Educational Leadership (formal role) recognizes the contributions of an individual holding a position whose roles and responsibilities include educational leadership or leadership on teaching and learning programs (including but not limited to department heads, program coordinators, associate deans, elected student representatives, or administrative staff). 
• Educational Leadership (informal role) recognizes individuals who do not hold formal leadership positions, but who contribute their expertise to significant and sustained educational initiatives.

The University of Calgary Teaching Award for Educational Leadership may not be awarded to the same individual more than once unless the re-nomination is based on a distinctly different contribution. The adjudication committee may recommend more recipients if multiple outstanding nominations are received.

Teaching excellence at the University of Calgary is supported by the contributions of many members of our university community who enable and enhance the work of others. There are many ways in which excellence in educational leadership may be demonstrated. The assessment of nominations will be guided by the following criteria:

Leading Change

• Leading specific initiatives that enhance student learning, the teaching development of colleagues, or administrative practices that influence teaching and learning.
• Making an impact on teaching and learning at the departmental, faculty and/or institutional level.
• Demonstrating commitment to teaching and learning by making substantial contributions to educational initiatives.

Sharing Expertise

• Sharing teaching or curriculum development expertise with others through mentoring or more formal workshop or program initiatives.
• Actively engaging colleagues in enhancing their teaching practices and/or scholarship.
• Contributing teaching and learning expertise in ways that have influence beyond one’s own teaching practice, including sharing knowledge and research with others.

Respect and Inclusion

• Develops inclusive and respectful relationships to influence change in teaching and learning cultures, communities and practices.
• Creates teaching and learning networks and communities that promote active engagement, participation, shared decision making and a sense of belonging.

Self-Reflection and Growth

• Collects feedback, engages in professional learning activities, and intentionally reflects on educational leadership to identify strengths, opportunities for growth and to improve teaching and learning.
• Adapts, innovates, and responds to change, within the context of their educational leadership approaches.

The nomination should be prepared by the nominator(s) and the nominee. Nominators may be one of, or any combination of academic staff, academic administrators, staff, or former students.

The nomination package includes:

• An online form verifying the nominee’s and nominator’s contact information, and the award they are being nominated for.
• A nomination letter (2-page maximum or 5 minutes maximum video or audio length) highlighting the nominee’s strengths, contributions, and accomplishments as they relate to the award criteria. This can be contributed by an individual nominator or co-written by nominators. Audio and video submissions that speak to the award criteria will also be accepted; and
• A nomination dossier (10-page maximum or 20 minutes maximum video or audio length). Audio and video submissions that speak to the dossier requirements will also be accepted.

3.1 Nomination Letter (2 pages or 5 minutes maximum video or audio length)

A nomination letter highlighting the nominee’s strengths, contributions, and accomplishments as they relate to one or more of the award criteria is required from an individual nominator or can be co-written by multiple nominators. Nomination letters are not included in the dossier page count; the letter should be a maximum of two pages or 5 minutes for audio or video submissions. 

3.2 Nomination Dossier (10 pages or 20 minutes maximum video or audio length)

Evidence of impact in educational leadership should be provided from multiple sources, including a nominee’s self-reflections, student feedback, and feedback from colleagues.

The nomination dossier should be a maximum of 10 pages or 20 minutes maximum video or audio length:

• Educational Leadership Philosophy Statement (1-page)
  The educational leadership philosophy statement explains the beliefs and values that guide a nominee’s practice and provides information about a nominee’s leadership experiences, contexts, approaches and contributions.
• Description of the leadership initiatives
  Dossiers should provide specific examples and descriptions of educational leadership initiatives lead by the nominee, including any relevant context. The description of the leadership initiatives should identify the need, the importance as it relates to teaching and learning, who was involved, and their approach to leading the initiatives.
• Evidence of Impact
  The dossier should include evidence of impact related to the educational leadership initiatives implemented. Evidence of impact may come from multiple sources and perspectives including self-reflections, excerpts from student comments, feedback and work, and input from colleagues, including letters, testimonials, or statements of support. 
• Self-reflection statement
  This self-reflection should provide committees with a clear overview of your educational leadership contributions, the impact of these contributions on the University of Calgary teaching and learning environment, and future areas for growth and improvement.

Nomination packages are stored and treated with care and confidentially, with access limited to adjudication committee members. All written and recorded materials submitted must adhere to appropriate University copyright policies and procedures and will remain the property of the creator.

3.3 Video and/or audio submissions

Video and/or audio recorded submissions that recognize oral traditions and speak to the award criteria will be accepted. Recordings should present a first-person narrative to support the nomination. Professionally produced videos will not be accepted. 

3.4 Support

Support for creating nomination letters and dossiers, including video and/or audio submissions, is available through the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

Administrative processes surrounding communication, nomination and selection processes is coordinated through the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.

A committee, chaired by the Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning (or delegate) and consisting of two academic staff members, two students (undergraduate and/or graduate), and a support (AUPE) staff, management or professional staff (MaPS) or postdoctoral scholar representative, will adjudicate the nomination files. 

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff, faculty, student and postdoctoral community benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to addressing systemic inequities by removing barriers that have been historically encountered by underrepresented identity groups in our society. We strive to ensure equitable representation on the awards adjudication committees. To this end, we encourage equity-deserving identity groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ persons and women, to join and serve on these committees. All committees are provided with resources and training to mitigate bias and ensure fair and inclusive decision-making processes.

All committees are guided in the adjudication through a consensus-based discussion with reference to the criteria for the award.

Recipients will be presented with their awards at the Celebration of Teaching and recognized on the Wall of Honour in the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. 

Award recipients will be invited to join the University of Calgary Teaching Academy, to share their experience and expertise back to the academic community.