U-M Teaching Awards

The University of Michigan recognizes and values good teaching. As a result, outstanding teaching is a criterion for many awards and prizes offered on campus, especially including the central administrative awards listed below.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1,500
Number of Awards: Up to 5
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Full or associate professors may be nominated for these awards which honor exceptional achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, teaching, service and other activities that have brought distinction to the University.
Selection Process and Deadline: Nominated by deans, directors, department/program heads or by execuitve, promotion or award committees. Rackham selects recipients based on recommendations of interdisciplinary faculty committee.
Deadline: February.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1000
Number of Awards: Up to 5
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Nominees must be tenured faculty members who have advised a substantial number of doctoral students over a number of years. More than one nomination may be submitted per department or program. Because the D'Arms Award specifically recognizes distinguished mentoring in the humanities, this award will typically go to faculty members in fields other than the humanities.
Selection Process: Nominations may be submitted by the nominee's dean, associate dean, department/program chair, or graduate chair. Graduate students and alumni are encouraged to contact department leadership with appropriate suggestions.
Deadline: January.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1000
Number of Awards: Up to 2
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Nominees must be faculty members who have advised a substantial number of Rackham master’s degree students over a number of years. More than one nomination may be submitted from any one program. Nominees may be a tenured or tenure track faculty member, or a faculty member who is a lecturer, or a clinical or research faculty member. Schools, departments and programs are encouraged to recognize that mentoring may take a variety of forms.
Selection Process: Nominations may be submitted by the nominee's dean, associate dean, department/program chair, or graduate chair. Graduate students and alumni are encouraged to contact department leadership with appropriate suggestions.
Deadline: January.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount and Number of Awards: The availability of Distinguished University Professorships varies from year to year because the distinction is held until retirement. Each professorship carries with it an annual salary supplement of $5,000 and an annual research supplement of $5,000.
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: These appointments recognize exceptional scholarly and/or artistic achievement, national and international reputation, and superior teaching skills. The duration of the appointment is unlimited, and the title may be retained after retirement. Only faculty with the rank of full professor may be nominated. Distinguished University Professorships are awarded only to members of the faculty currently in service to the University.
Selection Process: Nominations made by deans, directors, and department/program heads. Rackham selects recipients based on recommendations of interdisciplinary faculty committee.
Deadline: March.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: Up to 5
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Full professors with no more than four years at that rank, associate and assistant professors are eligible for these awards honoring significant achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, teaching, advising and mentoring, and service to the University.
Selection Process: Nominations made by department/program heads, individual faculty, and students; Rackham selects recipients based on recommendations of interdisciplinary faculty committee.
Deadline: February.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: Up to 2
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: These awards honor demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Any tenure-track faculty member who has been in the professorial ranks for more than two years is eligible for nomination.
Selection Process: Nominations are made by deans, directors and department/program heads; by executive promotion or award committees; or by individual faculty and students.
Deadline: February.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $5,000
Number of Awards: Up to 3
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Tenured faculty in the Humanities who have directed a substantial number of dissertations are eligible for these awards which recognize superb scholars who are also exceptional mentors. One or two students in the graduate programs of each faculty recipient will receive an award for summer research travel.
Selection Process: Nominations may be submitted by nominee's department/program chair, associate chair, or graduate chair.
Deadline: January.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $2,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Considered one of the University’s highest honors for a senior member of its faculty, the Henry Russel Lectureship is awarded annually in recognition of a scholar's exceptional achievements in research and scholarship and/or creative endeavors and an outstanding record of teaching, mentoring, and service. Active members of the faculty in any discipline at the rank of professor are eligible.
Selection Process: Nominations may originate from deans, directors, and department/program heads and from executive, promotion, or award committees. Reviewed by an interdisciplinary selection committee of senior faculty.
Deadline: March.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1,200
Number of Awards: 1 or more
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Recognizes distinguished scholarship or authorship, creativity in the arts, and conspicuous ability as a teacher. Associate and assistant professors are eligible provided that they have been tenure-track instructional faculty for not more than six years at the time of nomination.
Selection Process: Nominations may originate from deans, directors, and department/program heads; from executive, promotion, or award committees; or from individual faculty members and students. Reviewed by an interdisciplinary selection committee of senior faculty.
Deadline: March.

Sponsor: Rackham
Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: Up to 20
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Eligible students will have completed at least two terms (not necessarily consecutive) as Graduate Student Instructors. The awards honor GSIs who have demonstrated exceptional ability and creativity as teachers, continuous development as teachers, outstanding service as advisors and mentors, and steady growth as scholars.
Outstanding Process: Department/program heads, individual faculty, and students nominate 2 GSIs; interdisciplinary committee reviews and sends recommendations to Rackham, which selects winners.
Deadline: January.

Sponsor: Edward Ginsburg Center for Community Service and Learning
Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Faculty or staff member is recognized for involving their students in service-learning.
Selection Process: Each member campus of the national Campus Compact may nominate one faculty member, and one is chosen each year in this national competition.
Deadline: November

Sponsor: Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning
Award Amount: $2,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Faculty member who involves students in service-learning.
Selection Process: Each member campus of the national Campus Compact may nominate one faculty member, and one is chosen each year in this national competition.
Deadline: March

Sponsor: University of Michigan Hillel and Apple Computer
Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Honors faculty who strive not only to disseminate knowledge, but to inspire and engage students in its pursuit.
Process: Nominations submitted on-line (click link above) to Students Honoring Outstanding University Teaching (SHOUT) and recipient is chosen based on the quality and quantity of nominations.
Deadline: February

U-M School and College Awards

The University of Michigan recognizes and values good teaching in all its schools and colleges. As a result, outstanding teaching is a criterion for many awards and prizes offered on campus, especially those listed below, which are specific to different schools, colleges, and programs at UM.

School of Business

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Demonstrated excellence in new course development, colleague or student mentoring, development of new teaching materials such as cases, textbooks or software, revitalizing old courses, or pedagogical leadership.
Selection Process and Deadline: Letter of nomination from another faculty member or self-nomination; letter of support from area chair or full professor; Teaching Committee selects finalists and submits them to the Executive Committee.
Deadline: February

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Given by students at graduation ceremonies for BBA, MBA, PhD, Executive MBA, Global MBA, and MACC programs.

School of Dentistry

Award Amount: Varies
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Demonstrated excellence in new course development, colleague or student mentoring, development of new teaching materials such as cases, textbooks or software, revitalizing old courses, or pedagogical leadership.
Selection Process and Deadline: Letter of nomination from another faculty member or self-nomination; letter of support from area chair or full professor; Teaching Committee selects finalists and submits them to the Executive Committee.

School of Education

Award Amount: $1,500
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Evidence of quality instruction & mentoring; interest in improving teaching effectiveness of oneself & colleagues.
Selection Process and Deadline: Associate Dean solicits nominations; Graduate Affairs Committee & undergraduate students select recipients.

College of Engineering

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 3
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Demonstrated sustained excellence in instruction and guidance at undergraduate and graduate levels; Includes grad student supervision, development of new courses, teaching labs, teaching techniques, software packages for self teaching.
Selection Process and Deadline: Assistant, associate, and full professors may be nominated by students, faculty, and staff; should include a vita, nomination questionnaire, student course evaluations, and a nomination letter. Submitted to Honors and Awards Committee.
Deadline: October.

Award Amount: $10,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Extraordinary achievement in teaching, research, service, and other activities that have brought distinction to the College and University.
Selection Process and Deadline: Assistant, associate, and full professors submit nomination statement, vita, nomination questionnaire, letters of support to the Honors and Awards Committee.
Deadline: October.

Division of Kinesiology

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Superior classroom performance, innovative instruction, high education standards, and concern for students.
Selection Process: Nominated by faculty, staff, and students; student panel selects winners to be awarded at Commencement.
Deadline: March

School of Law

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Recognizes excellence in teaching at the Law School.
Selection Process: Recipients are selected by the Law School Student Senate from student nominations on the March ballot.
Deadline: March

College of Literature, Science & the Arts, Undergraduate Education

Award Amount: $2,500
Number of Awards: 1 or more
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Extensive documentation relating to overall excellence in teaching.
Selection Process: Faculty eligible for promotion are automatically nominated; Executive Committee selects winners.

Award Amount: $25,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Awarded to a department or program that has demonstrated special commitment to undergraduate education, as a complement to awards given to individuals.
Selection Process:Written report submitted to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education making the case for the department or program in question.
Deadline: February

Award Amount: $3,500
Number of Awards: 2 or more
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Special contributions to college's educational mission; excellence in teaching, curricular innovation and student supervision.
Selection Process: Nominated by directors and chairs; Advisory Committee and Dean select recipients.
Deadline: November

Award Amount: $3,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Making exceptional contributions toward recruiting and mentoring graduate students to the sciences from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds.
Selection Process: Given to tenure-track and tenured members of the Natural Sciences faculty, nominations solicited from department chairs and directors.
Deadline: January

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Significant contributions to teaching 1st & 2nd year students in Math, History, and Modern Languages; intellectual rigor of courses and ability to inspire students.
Selection Process: Executive Committee selects recipient based on recommendation of subcommittee of Curriculum Committee.
Deadline: March

School of Medicine

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Honors those faculty members who promote a gender-fair environment for the education and training of physicians and assure equal opportunities for women and men to study and practice medicine.
Selection Process and Deadline: Deadline and selection made by the Galens Medical Society.

Award Amount: Certificate
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Presented to a faculty member for outstanding teaching of medical students in a basic science area.
Selection Process and Deadline: Deadline and selection made by the Galens Medical Society.

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 2
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: The most prestigious teaching award given by the Medical School honors dedication to quality preclinical and clinical teaching, enthusiasm for students, and their continuing effort to improve the knowledge and experience of each medical student.
Selection Process: Nominations from students and faculty; teaching evaluations, vita, letters of support. Recipients selected by Awards Committee.
Deadline: November

Award Amount: $5,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Recognizes exceptional contributions to medical education in the M.D., Ph.D. and resident programs, over a lifetime.
Selection Process and Deadline: Nominations reviewed by a selection committee and forwarded to the Dean of the Medical School.
Deadline: May

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 4
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Top two faculty in Component I and top two faculty in Component II identified on basis of formal student evaluations.
Selection Process: Awarded at the end of the Fall and Winter terms by members of the class and the Dean.
Deadline: In the course of each term.

Award Amount: Certificate
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Clinical faculty member below the rank of associate professor who has best upheld the ideals of medical education.
Selection Process: Nominations from seniors in November. Selection vote made in February by the graduation class.
Deadline: from seniors in November

School of Natural Resources and Environment

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: N/A
Deadline: February

Award Amount: $0
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Informal
Deadline: February

School of Nursing

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Faculty member in School of Nursing.
Selection Process: Students, faculty, and staff vote by ballot in March and provide a supporting paragraph; Committee chooses winner based on ballots/paragraphs; announced at commencement.
Deadline: April

College of Pharmacy

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: All Governing and Clinical Track II faculty are eligible. Factors considered are: clear and logical presentation of material, fair and appropriate evaluations of student performance, ability to motivate students, responsiveness to students' needs, and innovations in teaching methods and/or content.
Selection Process: Nominated by any faculty member of the College of Pharmacy, or by a student in the College. Candidates are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of the Teaching Effectiveness Committee and a student representative from the P4 year.
Deadline: February

School of Public Health

Award Amount: $1,000
Number of Awards: 1
How Often Awarded: Annually
Criteria: Student and faculty evaluations of nominee and courses taught; content and appropriateness of course syllabus, evidence of diversity of students taught; evidence of student support/mentoring.
Selection Process: Students, faculty, or department chairs submit nominees; Alumni Board selects winner.
Deadline: Contact SPH Office of Academic Affairs, sph.inquiries@umich.edu

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University of Michigan Teaching Awards

UM Central Administration Awards