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 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (OTA)
Nomination Procedures
Nomination Procedure
Given the wide variation in TA responsibilities across campus, each academic department (or other academic unit as defined by the Dean for schools and colleges not organized by departments) wishing to nominate graduate students for an award will have considerable latitude in establishing selection criteria and a selection process. However, outstanding teaching is not sufficient: it is important that the TAs be making documented progress toward their academic degrees. Academic units are encouraged to consider ways to solicit undergraduate student recommendations for nominations for Outstanding TA Awards.
Nominations for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant award must be submitted to the Graduate School (207 Bowne Hall) by Friday, February 5, 2010. Nomination materials include:
- Letter of nomination from a faculty member in the student's academic discipline. This letter should include an overview of the nominee's outstanding service to the department, achievements in teaching and satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Please also include a brief description of why the candidate should be considered outstanding in the context of your program.
- Cover letter of endorsement from the department chair.
- If applicable, additional letters from graduate program directors are encouraged.
- Departments are encouraged to solicit letters of endorsement from undergraduate students.
Deprtments are responsible for notifying the TAs of their nomination and making them aware of the portfolio requirement.Final deadline for nominees to submit complete materials is Monday, March 1, 2010.
Once nominated, each TA will need to prepare a portfolio containing evidence of teaching excellence and progress toward the academic degree. The portfolio must include a table of contents, a description of specific teaching responsibilities at Syracuse University, a resume of other teaching and related experiences, student evaluations, a curriculum vita, and a statement of teaching philosophy or other reflective statement about teaching. Other materials may also be included, such as work samples, syllabi, quizzes, exams, assignments, reports of classroom observers (faculty or peers), video recordings of class sessions or presentations, and teaching awards. Electronic portfolio submissions are encouraged. Click here for more information regarding Teaching Portfolios.
Optional portfolio information sessions will be held on:
| Wednesday, February 10, 2010 |
10:00-11:00 a.m. |
423 Bowne Hall |
| Thursday, February 11, 2010 |
10:00-11:00 a.m. |
423 Bowne Hall |
| Friday, February 19, 2010 |
10:00-11:00 a.m. |
423 Bowne Hall |
Portfolio materials should be submitted in by Monday, March 1, 2010, to the Graduate School, 207 Bowne Hall. Portfolios may be picked up by the candidates after the awards selection is complete.
An awards presentation and reception will be held in mid-April. Award recipients will receive a gift and certificate of merit, and will be encouraged to invite their faculty supervisors or advisors to this event.
These awards are separate from the appointment of teaching fellows. Teaching fellows are appointed by the TA Program as graduate student leaders and mentors during the August orientation program and other program activities throughout the academic year. Departments may, of course, nominate a student for both a teaching fellow position and an Outstanding TA Award and may wish to employ a common nomination process for both honors. The portfolios submitted should be adapted for each distinct competition.
Questions about Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards should be directed Lee Pomeroy (etpomero@syr.edu, x 1856.
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