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The University Professor Award recognizes outstanding teaching at the University. Nominations for this award come from the student body, and a student selection committee bestows the honor of University Professor on up to four faculty annually. University Professors then have the freedom to develop and teach a course of their choosing during the following year as a means of enriching the undergraduate curriculum.

Since its founding in 1970, the University Professor program has recognized more than 200 professors for their teaching excellence.

Nominations

Any undergraduate student may nominate any full-time tenure-track, instructional or clinical µÛÍõ»áËù faculty for this award. This includes full-time faculty from any OHIO campus.

Note: Faculty who have received the University Professor award in the previous three years are ineligible for consideration. Previous University Professor award winners. 

Announcements inviting nominations will be sent out campus-wide during fall semester of each year.

Deadline for teaching award nominations is Oct. 15

Application and Selection 

Based on the number of nominations and evidence of teaching excellence provided, approximately 8-10 finalists are selected and asked to accept nomination.

By accepting the nomination, finalists agree to provide a brief proposal for a University Professor course (due Jan. 12) and be available to teach that course during the upcoming academic year (fall, spring, or summer).

Proposals must include a course title, course description (250 words or less), and course learning outcomes. Additional course information (e.g., learning components, key grade factors, etc.) is encouraged but not required. Proposals should be submitted to the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment at ctla@ohio.edu.

Finalists’ names are submitted to a selection committee, which includes 10-12 undergraduate students representing a variety of departments/schools, colleges and campuses.

The selection committee reviews course proposals, observes classroom instruction, and conducts interviews with each finalist.

• Interviews — Members of the selection committee ask finalists about teaching philosophies, student achievement of learning in their courses, engagement with students inside and outside the classroom, inclusive pedagogy, and scholarly accomplishments.
• Observations — Members of the selection committee observe a class taught by each finalist using a rubric based on OHIO’s conceptualization of teaching excellence.
• Proposals — Members of the selection committee consider the proposals based on 1) clear course goals and outcomes; 2) course capacity for student engagement; 3) new, innovative, or interesting approaches to the subject or discipline from an undergraduate student perspective. 

The selection committee selects up to four University Professors based on interviews, observations, and proposals. 

The committee's work begins at the start of spring semester and is complete by mid-March after final votes for the University Professors are cast. 

Questions regarding applications and the selection process may be directed to Katie Hartman, Vice Provost for Faculty Development.