Excellence in Online Teaching

Overview

A well-crafted nomination for this award would clearly address sustained excellence and innovation in online teaching & contributions to student learning through innovative uses of technology. Faculty members who teach credit-bearing online courses are eligible for the Campus Award for Excellence in Online Teaching. Up to two recipients will be selected to receive this award: tenure-system and specialized faculty are eligible. The award consists of an honorarium and a personalized commemorative plaque.

Eligibility

  • Tenure-system or specialized faculty who have taught at least 3 courses online on the Urbana-Champaign campus over the past 5 years as of the first day of the current academic year.
  • Has not won this award in the previous 10 years.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Sustained excellence in online teaching;
  • Positive impact on online student learning;
  • Innovative approaches to teaching online students;
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
  • Effective use of technology and media when used to teach online;
  • Creativity in course development and instruction;
  • Sensitivity to the advising needs of online students; and,
  • Influence on the quality, extent, and development of the department’s online program

Nominations

A nomination may be submitted by students, faculty members, administrators, or alumni and should be submitted to the departmental selection committee.

Any academic unit may nominate more than one candidate.

Individuals who have been nominated during a particular year should not serve on the departmental selection committee during that same year.

Nomination packets must include all materials described below. Please follow this outline when submitting a nomination:

  • The standard cover page (Attachment A) with the appropriate signatures.
  • A nomination letter addressing each of the Evaluation Criteria described above. The nomination letter should indicate why the nominee is exceptional as an excels in online teaching. (Not to exceed 3 pages.)
  • A teaching and learning philosophy statement provided by the nominee. This statement should include a discussion of the challenges, methods, and goals of teaching online courses including a well-articulated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through their teaching. (Not to exceed 2 pages.)
  • Two letters of support* from current or past students, preferably one current student and one alumnus. (See Attachment B for a sample solicitation letter.) (Not to exceed 2 pages each.)

*Letters from students should be solicited by the departmental selection committee, not the nominee. The nominee may be asked to suggest names.

Attachments

Previous Recipients
Award RecipientDepartmentAward Year
Sharon LeeEducation Policy, Organization & Leadership2024
Susan Dramin WeissSpeech & Hearing Science2024
Andrea Faber-TaylorCrop Sciences2023
Florencia Giglio HenshawSpanish & Portuguese2022
John HartComputer Science2021
Dawn BohnFood Science & Human Nutrition2020
Shachar MeronAdvertising2019
Kathleen McDowellInformation Sciences2018
Eric SnodgrassAtmospheric Sciences2017
Anjale WeltonEducation Policy, Organization & Leadership2015
Cris MayoCollege of Education2013

Assistance

For more information about Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction, contact the Office of the Provost at tab-awards@illinois.edu or 217-333-6677.