Department of Sociology

Award Name: Joseph R. DeMartini Excellence in Teaching Award

Award: $1,000 cash award.

Purpose: To recognize, honor and promote examples of high quality graduate student teaching.

Eligibility: All graduate students in the Department of Sociology who have taught for at least one semester are eligible for this award.

Application: Applicants must submit a complete teaching portfolio accompanied by a letter of nomination from the applicant (self nominee) or faculty member.

Criteria: An applicant's teaching protfolio should include:

• Course syllabi, lecture outlines, overheads, handouts, workbooks, class exercises, and any other classroom related material. Statement of teaching philosophy.
• Letters and comments from former students.
• Teaching evaluations from students (to be supplied by the department).
• Papers presented at professional meetings or published papers related to teaching.

Nominees will be observed in the classroom by at least two faculty members of the Award's Committee. Each nominee will be visited twice; each visit will be by a different committee member. If the nominee is not teaching during the semester, arrangements must be made to guest lecture when committee members are able to observe .

Selection Procedures: The Award's Committee will review all submitted portfolios and conduct classroom observations. Selection criteria include the quality and effectiveness of classroom teaching, completeness of teaching portfolio, the diversity of courses taught and sample assignments/activities, and the congruity of course design and student learning objectives.

Award Announcement: The winner will be notified by the Department Chair and a notice of recognition will be posted in the Department's display window outside the Department Office in Wilson Hall. In the event that applicant submissions do not meet the criteria or standards expected for this award, no award will be made. The awardee's name will be engraved on the DeMartini perpetual plaque. The awardee will be recognized at the Department of Sociology's annual Spring banquet where her/his teaching portfolio will be on display.