MSU Teaching Awards

"MSU Teaching Awards", November 2007.

Some profs are much better than others. Some profs are much, much better than others. So why not nominate them for a teaching award?

Every term, the MSU allows students to nominate their profs for a teaching award. The definition of an excellent prof is not clearly defined: it could be someone who took the extra time to communicate with their students, challenged them academically, motivated them to improve, or is just simply awesome. The Teaching Awards Committee, as stated by its MSU webpage, “is designed to recognize and encourage excellence in teaching at McMaster University by awarding MSU Teaching Awards, on behalf of all MSU members”.

Why nominate a professor? The most obvious answer: You will help them win the MSU Teaching Award. Additionally, it will inspire other professors to improve, as well as recognize the achievements of great ones. Lastly, it allows you to provide input about your education at McMaster, which is incredibly important to your overall experience while a student at Mac.

There are three kinds of available awards; Faculty Awards, Achievement Awards, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. Faculty Awards are given to one professor from each of the faculties. The instructor must not have won an award the year previous, and it recognizes their all-around teaching performance. Reasons why these awards are given include approachability, ability to communicate, and their enthusiasm. Achievement Awards are given to instructors who have only been at Mac for less than two years. This award encourages these instructors to continue to contribute in a positive way to the McMaster community. Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to instructors who have been at McMaster for at least ten years, and are nearing retirement. They must have been nominated for a MSU Teaching Award in the past, and recognizes their significant contributions to McMaster students.

Once the top two nominees in each faculty are determined, evaluation forms are given out to their classes, and the results tabulated. The winner is based on the highest average score from the evaluations. Merit and Lifetime Achievement Awards are selected based on detailed applications from instructors, and are evaluated based on contributions to academics, McMaster student life, and the community outside McMaster.

Do you want to get involved? Volunteer to be on the Teaching Awards Committee! More information is available on the MSU’s ‘Volunteering’ webpage.

Nominations are available starting November 21st. Nomination forms can be filled out online, or at Compass (come visit!).

For more information (and to nominate your prof), consult with the MSU’s Teaching Awards website: http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/tac/