Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

The UT System Board of Regents introduced in 2008 The Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards to recognize faculty who deliver the highest quality of undergraduate instruction, demonstrate their commitment to teaching, and have a history and promising future of sustained excellence with undergraduate teaching.

These awards are available to the eight UT system institutions and are believed to be among the highest in the nation for rewarding outstanding undergraduate faculty performance and innovation. For more detailed information, please visit: Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards

Award nominees must clearly demonstrate their commitment to teaching and a sustained capability to deliver excellence to the undergraduate learning experience as outlined in the criteria below.

UTRGV will nominate Tenured, Tenure-Track, and Contingent faculty for the award. To nominate a colleague you feel meets the criteria for this prestigious award, simply complete the nomination form.

The Office of Faculty Success & Diversity will hold workshops to help nominees prepare their application materials.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dra. Alyssa Cavazos at Alyssa.Cavazos@utrgv.edu (Academic Affairs) or Dr. Shawn Saladin at Shawn.Saladin@utrgv (Health Affairs).

Timeline for 2019-2020

Activity Deadlines/Dates
Send Call for Nominations 10/04/2019
Nominations Due 10/18/2019, 5:00 p.m.
Notifications to Nominees Week of 10/21/2019
Application Files Due 1/21/2020
Committee Review 1/22/2020 to 2/5/2020
Nominees Notified 2/14/2020
Selected Nominees Finalize Application Files 2/14/2020 to 3/6/2020
Final Applications Due 3/6/2020

Selection Criteria

  • Sustained high performance in student exit (end-of-course) evaluations for more than one undergraduate course, at any undergraduate level; evidence to include high evaluation scores and trends.
  • Syllabi clearly articulate the expected student learning outcomes and major assignments clearly and compellingly align with those outcomes.
  • Compelling recommendations from students, peer faculty and department chair that speak highly of nominees' curriculum quality and classroom expertise.
  • Provides clear and compelling evidence of linking faculty scholarship with innovative course development, materials and content that together inspire students' curiosity and creativity.
  • Provides clear and compelling commitment to and evidence of continuous improvement and innovation in the preparation of course materials.
  • Clear and compelling commitment to high quality undergraduate education from participation in teacher training and/or academic teaching conferences.
  • Demonstrates a clear and compelling focus on undergraduate student engagement in the learning process through innovative and inclusive teaching techniques.
  • Employs a variety of teaching tools and mediums into courses.
  • Evidence of teaching awards received at department, college or university levels or elsewhere (professional discipline associations).
  • Clear and compelling academic-related interaction with undergraduate students beyond the classroom, such as sponsorship of student organizations, sponsorship of scholastic fraternities, field experiences, and undergraduate research.
  • Additional extraordinary commitment to teaching including mentoring students, service learning, engagement, advising, and undergraduate thesis advising.