Purpose
In recognition of the centrality of excellent teaching to DePaul's mission and of the important role played by Part-time faculty, the Quality of Instruction Council (QIC) reserves some Excellence in Teaching awards specifically for Part-time faculty. Each Excellence in Teaching Award includes:
- An honorarium of $1,500 (pre-tax) available no sooner than July 1st of the year the award is made;
- An inscribed plaque; and
- Acknowledgment in University publications.
Eligibility
Faculty members who have taught at least four
degree-credit courses at DePaul in each of the four preceding academic years
are eligible for consideration. A faculty member who receives an Excellence in
Teaching Award from the council may not be selected again in the three years
immediately following. Faculty members may receive teaching awards from their
colleges simultaneously with the QIC award.
Each college may nominate one
part-time faculty every year. Academic units that do not wish to nominate
faculty are not required to participate in this program. Academic units that
wish to suggest alternative approaches to recognizing excellence in teaching at
the university level for their part-time faculty are most welcome to do so by
writing to the council at QIC@depaul.edu.
Criteria for Selection
Each college or school determines its own nomination and selection process, but the QIC reviews the criteria and procedures for comparability, fairness, rigor, and consistency with University mission, policy and practice. The council reviews individual nominations for consistency with the stated criteria of the college or school.
The selection criteria and procedures followed by the dean's office must:
- Be submitted to the council for review by October 15;
- Be distributed to all eligible faculty members;
- Be based solely on teaching performance in degree-credit programs at DePaul (including curriculum design and any extra-classroom activities related to degree-credit instruction);
- Refer to the academic year of the award and optionally cover the two preceding years—although consistency is given weight, this is not a lifetime achievement award;
- Take into account written student evaluations, particularly evaluations over the most recent academic year;
- Incorporate review by at least two faculty members or include a statement of teaching philosophy; and
- Include endorsements by the dean or chair.
Nomination Materials
The nomination package must be submitted electronically (via e-mail at QIC@depaul.edu) and be received by the Council Chair by May 1st.
Materials submitted by each dean to the council should include:
- A letter from the committee chair highlighting the nominee's strengths as a teacher;
- A copy of each nominee's current curriculum vitae;
- An edited selection of evidence illustrating the nominee's teaching strengths including faculty peer reviews (at least two from the nominee's department); if peer reviews are not available, a statement of teaching philosophy may be substituted;
- Some form of summary of student evaluations (not the individual evaluations) and a sample evaluation form;
- A review of the year's selection process, including the members of the selection committees; and
- An explicit endorsement by the appropriate dean in the form of a brief citation suitable for public presentation.
These materials are used by the council both to study the qualities and skills that distinguish the awardees as superior teachers and to communicate their accomplishments to the university community.
Calendar
- October 15th: Each dean distributes their unit's award criteria and procedures to their respective faculties and to QIC. QIC reviews these materials for comparability (not uniformity), fairness, rigor, and consistency with university mission, policy and practice. The council may forward suggestions to the deans for consideration in the future.
- May 1st: The names of the nominees and their supporting material are sent to the Chair of the QIC via email at QIC@depaul.edu. QIC reviews materials for consistency with stated criteria and procedures.
- September: Awardees are honored at Convocation.