Office of Research

Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award 2007-2008

NYU Steinhardt is pleased to announce the establishment of the Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award and invites your nominations.

Description of Award

Steinhardt doctoral students who excel in teaching, and who have demonstrated evidence of teaching effectiveness, may qualify for the Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award.  Up to 3 students will be awarded $1000 each and a certificate in recognition of this honor. Recipients may be asked to present their ideas on teaching excellence at an open forum.

Nomination Procedure

Department Chairs or Program Directors should submit a written statement of no more than 250 words in support of his/her nominees. The nominations should cite examples of teaching excellence as per the criteria delineated below and list the courses that the student has taught.   Nominations must be received by APRIL 18, 2008 to be considered for this year’s award. Please include the student’s full name and email in the letter.

Criteria for Selection

All Ph.D. students who have completed at least one semester of teaching in either a regular course or a workshop are eligible for the award.  Students must be nominated by their Department Chair or a Program Director.  In evaluating nominees, a number of factors will be taken into account: 

  1. recommendation of the Department Chairperson or Program Director;
  2. supporting documentation
    1. course syllabus
    2. course materials;
  3. course faculty evaluations;
  4. in-class evaluation of the student’s teaching by a member of the department faculty

Characteristics of effective teaching include the following skills/abilities:

  1. translate an area of expertise (e.g., research skills, creative expression) into successful classroom teaching;
  2. motivate and affect student development and growth through diverse and inspiring teaching methods;
  3. apply one’s knowledge of the field and relate to students in an engaging manner;
  4. be sensitive to diverse learning styles;
  5. consider and incorporate issues of diversity in the curriculum;
  6. where and when appropriate, utilize technologies as means of teaching.

Procedures

  1. The Associate Dean for Research & Doctoral Studies with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs will initiate the formation of the selection committee, and will convene the first meeting early each year.
  2. The Committee will solicit nominations (no self-nomination allowed) and letters and statements of support from Department Chairs and Program Directors.
  3. After the nomination period is closed, the committee will request a portfolio from the nominee.  The portfolio will contain a (1) curriculum vitae; (2) summary of student course evaluations, and (3) course materials including syllabi.
  4. The Committee will review the material submitted and recommend the nominees for The Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award to the Dean.

Please send your nominations via email to:

The Doctoral Student Teaching Excellence Award Committee
c/o Associate Dean Perry N. Halkitis     pnh1@nyu.edu