NCSU CALS Faculty & Staff




CALS

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Overview
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award is given annually. The award recognizes teaching excellence by graduate students in the College. Criteria for selection will include teaching effectiveness, academic scholarship and dedication as well as enthusiasm for professional development. Relative to actual classroom and laboratory performance, information provided in the nomination must include some evaluation of knowledge and organization of subject matter, effectiveness of oral communication, ability to stimulate students, effectiveness of visual aids, quality of handouts, preparation of lab materials, fairness in testing and grading, counseling of students outside class, attitude toward student expression and overall evaluations of instructor.
 
Eligibility
Nominees may be Master's or Ph.D. students and must have taught at least two semesters. Nominees must, of course, be in good academic standing.
 
Nomination and Selection
Each department (or program) may nominate one graduate student for the award. Nominations may be made by any faculty member within the nominee's major department or interdisciplinary program. The nominator should have first-hand knowledge of the graduate student's teaching experiences.

Required Elements for the Nomination
The following items must be included in the nomination:

1. From the nominator:

  • Nomination Form Cover Sheet (download forms for cover sheet and summary evaluation here)

  • Indication of nature of the TA's assignment, e.g., grading papers, laboratory preparation, periodic lectures, etc.

  • A letter of reference from the faculty supervisor or faculty mentor of the TA; this letter must provide information based on direct knowledge of the nominee's classroom responsibilities and performance.

  • A seconding letter from a faculty member also aware of the nominee's teaching effort/experience.

  • Student evaluations of the TA, including an interpretation and a copy of the instrument used.


2. From the student (nominee): A Teaching Portfolio prepared by the individual, including:

  • Personal C.V.

  • Teaching philosophy (statement/perspective).

  • Self-evaluation (preparation for teaching, on-going and future goals for teaching.

  • Examples of teaching materials prepared/used (tests/quizzes, syllabi/handouts, etc.).

  • Extent of contact with students outside of class/laboratory, if any.

  • Teaching awards/honors received.

  • Student comments from teaching evaluations.



Nominations should be submitted in pdf format to Robin Clements (renutt@ncsu.edu) no later than Thursday, March 14, 2013.

Selection of award recipients will be by an Awards Committee consisting of members of the CALS Graduate Studies Committee. Although all graduate students in CALS with teaching responsibilities are eligible for these awards, stronger consideration will be given to conventional teaching assistants rather than to students who are appointed as Assistant Instructors, Instructors, Lecturers, etc. Cash awards are presented to recipients at the annual Gamma Sigma Delta banquet in the spring semester.

If you have any questions, or encounter any problems, please contact Robin Clements via e-mail at renutt@ncsu.edu.
 

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