Graduate Teaching Excellence Award

Deadline

  • Internal Pre-Application to Department or Program: varies by unit. Check with your home department or program. 
  • The Division of Graduate Studies online application (submit only if you have been nominated by your home department/program): March 1, 2025
  • Deadline for submission of letters of recommendation: March 1, 2025

Overview

The Graduate Teaching Excellence Award is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Division of Graduate Studies, and the Division of Undergraduate Education and Student Success.

It is designed to recognize outstanding teaching performance by experienced graduate employees (GEs) who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their instructional skills, while at the same time excelling in their academic degree program.

Award Details

  • One award of $1,000.
  • Funds will be disbursed to the student billing account during Spring 2025.
  • Department nomination required.
  • Only one nomination per department or program.

Eligibility and Criteria

  • GEs with at least 5 terms of experience as sole instructor, lab or discussion leader.
  • Participation in teacher training or other professional development.
  • Record of excellence in instructional duties.
  • Exemplary academic record.
  • Must be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of degree requirements. Review the Division of Graduate Studies' satisfactory progress requirement here.
  • Must be enrolled full time at the time of award distribution.

Department/Program Nomination Process

Each department or program may only nominate one student.

Internal Pre-Application Process and Deadline

Each department or graduate program should establish an internal pre-application process and deadline for students to be considered for nomination. The internal deadline should be early enough so that students who are selected for nomination can submit the Division of Graduate Studies application by March 1. Once a student has been selected for nomination, they can then submit the online award application at the link below. 

Nomination Confirmation 

Once students have submitted their application materials in the online application system, the Division of Graduate Studies will contact each each unit to confirm that the student who applied has been selected by that unit for nomination. 

Student Application Process

If you are selected for nomination by your department/program, submit the following materials via the online application no later than March 1: 

  • Statement addressing your teaching philosophy and describing the most important things you have learned about teaching
    • Up to 500 words
    • No more than 2 pages
  • A list of the courses you have taught, including term, course name and number, course enrollment, and role (sole instructor, lab/discussion leader, or TA)
  • A description of the teacher training and professional development activities in which you have participated
  • Course evaluations (available in DuckWeb): 
    • For any courses taught prior to implementation of the new Student Experience Survey system: Upload a copy of the quantitative teaching evaluation summary for each course taught. Do not include student comment summaries.
    • For any courses evaluated under the new Student Experience Survey system: Upload a copy of the end-of-course student experience survey report for each course taught.
  • 1 letter of recommendation from the designated UO faculty advisor, to be received by March 8:
    • Enter recommenders' contact information on the application; they will receive an email with a link to upload their letters
    • The letter must verify that the student is making satisfactory progress per Division of Graduate Studies' requirements.
  • 1 letter of recommendation from another UO faculty member, to be received by March 8:
    • Enter recommenders' contact information on the application; they will receive an email with a link to upload their letters

Application coming soon

For more information, please contact the Division of Graduate Studies.

Graduate Students with Financial Aid
Receiving this award may reduce your financial aid award. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for this (and any other type of) support.

You may apply for this award regardless of immigration status or work eligibility.