Teaching Excellence Awards

Nomination Criteria:

The CSA’s Faculty Teaching Champion Award recognizes a professor or lecturer at the University of Guelph who demonstrates the following qualities through their teaching work:

Passion – fosters a learning environment that is student-centered; encourages questions and critical thinking; incites interest and desire to learn and better oneself

Mentorship – takes a personal interest in students’ wellbeing and success; provides personal/professional development opportunities; takes a holistic approach to educating

Innovation – explores and utilizes new, unique, or creative methods for teaching style, course design, curriculum, and assessment

Approachability – makes time for students; welcoming and inviting towards students’ questions, concerns, etc.

Accessibility – recognizes and accommodates students’ individual, unique needs in teaching, learning, and evaluation

Nomination Requirements/Process:

Nominees must be either:

• a full-time University of Guelph faculty member (holding the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor), having taught at least 1 undergraduate course in the year they are nominated
• a Sessional Lecturer, having taught at least 1 undergraduate course in the year they are nominated

Multiple nominations may be submitted for the same nominee, provided they are submitted by different nominators. All nominations received will be reviewed by the CSA Awards Committee, according to the criteria listed above.

Nomination Criteria:

The CSA’s TA Teaching Champion Award recognized a Teaching Assistant at the University of Guelph who demonstrates the following qualities through their teaching:

Passion – demonstrates enthusiasm for teaching and a commitment to student learning; encourages curiosity, engagement, and critical thinking.

Mentorship – provides meaningful academic support to students; offers guidance on coursework and study strategies; takes a personal interest in students’ wellbeing and success.

Facilitation – uses creative approaches to tutorials, labs, discussions, seminars; adapts their teaching methods for diverse learning styles; actively engages students in the learning process.

Communication – maintains open and responsive communication with students; provides constructive feedback; creates space for questions and dialogue.

Accessibility – understands and accommodates diverse student needs; applies inclusive practices in grading, feedback, and facilitation

Nomination Requirement/Process:

Nominees must be a Teaching Assistant (GTA or UTA), having held a TA appointment for a minimum of 1 undergraduate course during the year they are nominated.

Multiple nominations may be submitted for the same nominee, provided they are submitted by different nominators. All nominations received will be reviewed by the CSA Awards Committee, according to the criteria listed above.