Graduate Students

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award is designed to recognize and reward graduate assistants for outstanding performance in teaching and instruction.

Award

Two awards will be given annually—one to a doctoral student and one to a master's student. The recipients will receive a cash award of $500 in recognition of exceptional effort and contributions to academic excellence through teaching and instruction.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award, graduate students must:

• Have held a graduate assistantship for one at least full term (Fall 2023, Spring 2024 or Summer 2024) in which instruction was the primary responsibility
• Have had primary responsibility as a graduate assistant for providing instruction in the form of either lecturing, tutoring, grading or another activity in which the graduate assistant teaches and interacts with students at SIUE
• Have not received the award the year prior

All eligible candidates are encouraged to apply.

Nomination Procedure

The nomination process will consist of:

1. Self-Nomination submitted by the TA using the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Self-Nomination form found on the Graduate Student Forms website. The self-nomination will require the below information for the Teaching Portfolio:
   
   • Courses and Student Evaluations. Description of course or courses taught as a graduate teaching assistant, including your primary responsibilities for each course and the number of students. Please identify the faculty supervisor for each of the courses listed. Include a summary of student evaluations if available. (300 words maximum)
   • Philosophy of Teaching Statement (300 words maximum)
     
   • Evidence of Instructional Design, Innovation, Delivery, Course Management, and Student Learning. Describe your innovation in course design, delivery, and management in your teaching. Discuss evidence of effective student learning. (300 words maximum)
   • Evidence of Scholarship in Teaching/Learning. Provide evidence of your own study of teaching and learning, including any publications/presentations, or grant proposals. Provide evidence of how pedagogical research has informed your teaching methods. (300 words maximum)
   • Evidence of Effective Student/Colleague Mentoring. Provide evidence of your commitment to mentoring your students and/or your contributions to your department's teaching efforts. (300 words maximum)
2. After the self-nomination is received, it will be forwarded to the designated TA Supervisor willing to support the nomination. The information requested from the TA Supervisor will include:
   
   • Evidence of effectiveness in instruction, including mastery of teaching techniques and consideration of student needs, interests and problems, including accessibility to students outside the classroom.
   • Knowledge of subject matter evidenced by student evaluations, reviews by supervising faculty, peer review and/or departmental recognition awards.
   • Concern with intellectual growth evidenced by student’s own academic achievement and self-development.
3. The nomination information from the TA and the TA Supervisor will be forwarded to the Department Chair and School/College Dean for approval. 

Deadline for Submission

The self-nomination form must be submitted no later than Friday, August 30, 2024 at 4:30pm.
The TA Supervisor nomination support and all approvals must be completed by Monday, September 9, 2024 at 4:30pm.

Evaluation Criteria

Complete and eligible applications received and approved by the above deadlines will be reviewed by the Graduate Student Awards Committee using the OTAA Rubric. Awards will be presented at the Graduate School's Fall Awards Reception.