Awards & Recognition

1. The Slobodan Drakulic Cross-Disciplinary Teaching Award
Named in honour of the late Dr. Slobodan Drakulic (a faculty member in the Sociology Department), this award recognizes faculty and/or contract lecturers who have demonstrated continuing excellence in teaching students from a wide range of disciplines. Faculty and contract lecturers beyond their third year at Toronto Metropolitan University who teach classes that typically include students from a variety of programs, and who have developed innovative and effective approaches to engaging a diverse range of students, are eligible. This award is open to TFA faculty members and CUPE1 contract lecturers. One award will be given out annually.

2. The New Faculty Teaching Award
This award is open to pre-tenure faculty in their first three years at Toronto Metropolitan University who have consistently demonstrated excellence in, and commitment to teaching. Outstanding teaching may be measured by: the enhancement of student engagement, curriculum (re)development, innovation in the classroom, new experiential educational opportunities, interdisciplinary teaching, in addition to a commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression and/or decolonization in education. This award is open to pre-tenure TFA faculty members. Up to two awards will be given out annually.

3. Faculty of Arts Award in Teaching Innovation and Inclusion
This Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of teaching and learning in the Faculty of Arts, with a focus on innovation, inclusivity and experiential education. The recipient(s) must have demonstrated excellence in a variety of ways, including but not limited to student engagement and mentoring, curriculum and (re)development, career-integrated learning, global education, interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression and/or decolonization. This award is open to TFA faculty members who have minimum three years teaching experience in the Faculty of Arts. Up to two awards will be given out annually.

4. Faculty of Arts Contract Lecturer Teaching Award
This award recognizes demonstrated teaching excellence among CUPE 1 Contract Lecturers in any department in the Faculty of Arts. Excellence may be measured in a number of ways, including enhancement of student engagement, creativity and innovation in teaching, experiential learning, fostering of equity and inclusion in the classroom. This award is open to CUPE1 contract lecturers who have taught in the Faculty of Arts during the Fall and Winter semesters in the current academic year. Up to two awards will be given out annually.

5. Faculty of Arts Students’ Choice Award
This award, based on student nominations, celebrates the faculty member's demonstrated excellence in, and commitment to teaching. Outstanding teaching may be measured by: the enhancement of student engagement, curriculum (re)development, innovation in the classroom, new experiential educational opportunities, interdisciplinary teaching, in addition to a commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression and/or decolonization in education. This award is open to TFA faculty members and to CUPE1 contract lecturers who have taught in the Faculty of Arts during the Fall and Winter semesters in the current academic year. One award will be given.

• A contract lecturer or faculty member may be nominated for no more than one Faculty of Arts teaching award per academic year.
• A contract lecturer or faculty member may not win more than one award in the same category during a 3-year period.
• Awards will be adjudicated by the Faculty of Arts Teaching and Learning Committee, which consists of 4 past teaching award winners in the Faculty, in addition to the Associate-Dean, Innovation in Teaching and Learning. 
• The committee reserves the right not to grant an award in a given year, if none of the nominees meet the awards criteria.

Any member of the Faculty of Arts community (faculty, student or staff) may nominate an instructor for these awards. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominators must:

• secure the nominee’s written permission.
• Assemble the nomination package as described below.
• Submit the nomination package using the form below no later than 4 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2024.

A Nomination package must include:

• The nominee’s permission for the nomination (via an attached email). 
• A brief nomination statement (maximum 300 words) that clearly addresses the nominee’s achievements according to the relevant awards category. 
• Endorsements from faculty members and students provide specific examples of why the nominee should be considered for the award (maximum 2 pages in total).
• Maximum 1-page of statement of teaching philosophy and an abbreviated C.V. (maximum 4 pages) focusing on the nominee’s teaching, educational leadership, achievements and other contributions to teaching and learning, as distinct from a standard C.V. pertaining to the nominee’s field of expertise.

If you have any questions, please contact:  Dr. Kathleen Kellett, Interim Associate Dean in Innovation in Teaching and Learning, at kkellett@torontomu.ca

For students who are interested in nominating an instructor for the Students' Choice award, please submit this nomination form (external link) .