Distinguished Teaching Award
Entry Steps

1. COMPLETE THE NOMINATION FORM. The Committee on Teaching uses information on the form for all future correspondence with you and your department. This form should be filled out carefully and completely. Please double-check to ensure that the information is accurate and legible.

2. SUBMIT A COVER LETTER FROM THE NOMINATING DEPARTMENT (NO MORE THAN SIX PAGES-SINGLE SIDES). This letter is critical. It should describe as completely as possible what it is that makes the candidate's teaching distinguished as opposed to good or merely adequate. To be most effective, the letter should serve as a guide or index to the subsequent dossier, guiding the reader to the most important elements (specific comments, letters, and abstracted phrases). If negative comments are included they can be addressed in the cover letter.

• Topics to cover: These examples can be conveniently arranged under subheadings: Teaching evaluations, number and types of courses taught, impact on students (personal or academic), contributions to teaching, teaching innovations, and community outreach.

3. SUBMIT A TWO-PAGE CURRICULUM VITAE. The judges need a concise presentation of the nominee's education, teaching experience, other teaching awards, publications, service, and other significant contributions. If you choose to, you may summarize this information using a biographical format. Please include the nominee's home and office phone numbers.

4. SUBMIT A LIST OF COURSES THE NOMINEE HAS TAUGHT AT UCLA. Please include the course titls, whether the courses were primarily for major or non-majors, required or not, course enrollments, and the average student evaluation scores (if standard forms are used).

5. EACH NOMINEE MUST WRITE A BRIEF (NO MORE THAN THREE-PAGE) STATEMENT OF TEACHING DESCRIBING CONTRIBUTIONS MADE AS A TEACHER. Nominees may describe their scholarly approach to teaching through such examples as:

• Innovative techniques he/she has developed to evaluate student learning and to provide feedback
• A course created or a curriculum he/she revised
• Examples of effective advising and mentoring techniques
• Innovative teaching techniques shared with other teachers
• How the learning process extends beyond the classroom
• Creative ways that research or public service has been used to illuminate teaching

6. SUBMIT A LIST OF WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM STUDENT EVALUATION FORMS. Only include the written comments that clearly contain important information not adequately presented elsewhere in the dossier.

7. SUBMIT NO MORE THAN 15 LETTER OF SUPPORT ONE TO TWO PAGES EACH (20 FOR MENTORSHIP AWARD). Letters solicited on behalf of the candidates are definitely encouraged. Care should be taken to solicit letters that are representative of the range of courses taught by the nominee. Letters could come from, but are not limited to, the following sources:

• Current and former undergraduate and graduate students
• Colleagues, such as faculty, teaching assistants, academic deans, other associates, others in the community or in his/her profession that supports the nomination. Faculty and Associates may be in a position to evaluate goals, intellectual level, integrity, overall organization, and effectiveness of the nominee.

Letters should discuss the instructor's success in and dedication to teaching and give specific examples of how the instructor fulfills the program's criteria.

8. OTHER SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

• Successful dossiers often include a separate section detailing exceptional contributions to the organization and presentation of the subject matter of a course and innovations in teaching.
• Any projects or grants related to instruction, in which the nominee has been involved.
• Selection of at least 3-5 syllabi

The entire submission should be a maximum 75 pages in length.

Plese note that if the Committee on Teaching receives photos, videos, books, and other materials, these items will be removed from nominations prior to judging. Please place nominations in a binder or hardcover notebook with sections tabbed or otherwise demarcated. Loose papers will not be considered; if time permits, they will be returned so they can be prepared according to the guidelines.