Deadline: Friday, February 3, 2012

The Distinguished Teacher Award is given in recognition of a continued record of excellence in teaching at the University of Waterloo. Inquiries can be made to Verna Keller (x33857) in CTE, or to specific DTA Liaisons:

• Ron McCarville Ext. 33048 (Applied Health Sciences)
• Emanuel Carvalho Ext. 32246 (Arts)
• Alex Penlidis Ext. 36634 (Engineering)
• Jean Andrey Ext. 33629 (Environment)
• Frank Zorzitto Ext. 35563 (Mathematics)
• Mario Coniglio Ext. 32063 (Science)
• TBA Ext. 24265 (Conrad Grebel University College)
• Heather Bode Ext. 28225 (St. Jerome's University)

Criteria

The main criterion is a record of excellent teaching at UW over an extended period, usually at least five years. It is open to all those who teach students at the University of Waterloo and is not limited just to those holding faculty appointments. The Selection Committee looks for evidence of intellectual vigour and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter, along with evidence of educational impact beyond the classroom. The instructor’s human quality and concern for and sensitivity to the needs of students are obvious criteria. The Selection Committee will look for a clear indication that the nominee has a favourable and lasting influence on students, and, where relevant, on colleagues. Evidence of successful innovation in teaching or publications/ presentations on teaching and learning may support a nomination, but it is also clear that excellence in teaching does not necessarily require either. Winners are announced annually at the March meeting of Senate. Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions.

History

The DTA awards were approved by Senate on December 15, 1975, with the following explanatory statement:

The Distinguished Teacher Award has been set up by the Senate of the University of Waterloo in recognition of the great importance of excellence in teaching at all levels in the University. The award is open to all those who teach students in the University of Waterloo and its federated and affiliated colleges. Recipients are to be chosen from among nominees by a Selection Committee of faculty and students. The University plans to honour three Distinguished Teachers each year.

Until 1988 three awards were made each year (except for 1983 when four DTAs were awarded because the committee felt unable to differentiate between the top candidates). However, in March 1988 Senate approved a fourth award for: Non-regular faculty members (i.e. part-time faculty, full and part-time staff, and faculty members holding adjunct appointments). From 1989 to 2005, one of the four annual awards was set aside for "non-regular" instructors, but in 2005 Senate passed a motion stating "that the categories of Distinguished Teacher Award - DTA, DTA [Non regular] - be removed, and that up to 4 awards be made each year to Distinguished Teachers."

Click Here for a table of past DTA winners, and here for citations describing their teaching practice.

The LIFT Award was developed to recognize and encourage teaching excellence at Ontario's colleges and universities. This award has been given out to faculty who influence, motivate and inspire students and demonstrate leadership in teaching methods for the diverse student body in Ontario. Winners are receiving $20,000 over two years to encourage continued excellence in the classroom setting. To view awards by Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, please vist their website.

Deadline: The nomination deadline is the second Friday in February. Committee deliberations take place in February/March. The Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student, AETS, program is administered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence, CTE. Inquiries can be directed to CTE at the EV1 building (Room 325) or by calling (519) 888-4567, Ext. 33857. You may also email us with any questions to: cte@uwaterloo.ca. (This award was previously named Distinguished Teaching by a Registered Student Award and was renamed in April 2006 to the Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student.  From 2010/11 onwards, the award will be referred to as the Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student.)

The awards are open to all registered students who have a formal teaching role (e.g., teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, sessional lecturer) at the University of Waterloo or its federated and affiliated university/colleges. Recipients are to be chosen from among nominees by a Selection Committee of faculty and students. The University plans to honour students for their teaching excellence each year. 

Criteria: The awards are given in recognition of excellence in teaching of all kinds by registered students. The awards are open to all students who have a formal teaching role at the University of Waterloo. The Selection Committee will look for intellectual vigour and communication skills in the interpretation and presentation of subject matter. Concern for and sensitivity to the academic need of the students is an important criterion.  

Nominations: Candidates are nominated to the Selection Committee which will present up to four awards once a year. In order for a nominee to be considered for the award, his/her nomination must be endorsed by as least five individuals, including present and past students of the nominee, and present and past faculty supervisors of the nominee. A minimum of three of the individuals endorsing the nominee must be past or present students of the nominee. To nominate a student, submit a completed nomination form or a letter that clearly explains why the nominee should receive the award. Submit nomination forms by email to cte-awar@uwaterloo.ca no later than 4:30 pm on the second Friday in February.

Deadline: The nomination deadline is the second Friday in February. Committee deliberations take place in February/March.

Award: The award consists of:

A. Acknowledgment at the convocation when the student graduates.
B. A cheque valued in the range of $1,000.00 each and a Certificate.

Selection Committee: Appointed by Senate, membership to be:

• three undergraduate students
• two graduate students
• two members of Faculty (including the Teaching Resource Person)
• Associate Provost of Graduate Studies (Chair)
  

Click Here for past winners

The Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) Award is given annually to a graduate student who demonstrates the highest achievement on completion of the program. Selection is made in by the Director of the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and the winner is announced in March. The Award consists of a plaque and a cash award. This award is open to all graduate students who have completed the Certificate in University Teaching Program. As the winner is determined internally, no application is required.

Past CUT Winners

Year	Name	Department	Faculty
2006	Austen, Veronica J.	English	Arts
2007	Tucker, Trent R.	Management Sciences	Engineering
2008	Chisholm, Diana	Statistics & Actuarial Science	Mathematics
2009	Müller, Mareike	Germanic & Slavic Studies	Arts
2010	Peiris, Ramila H.	Chemical Engineering	Engineering
2011	Nesan, Dinushan	Biology	Science

Excellence in Science Teaching Award

Please contact the faculty/department in question.

OCUFA seeks to maintain and enhance the quality of higher education in Ontario, and to advance the professional and economic interests of teachers, researchers, and librarians in Ontario universities.

OCUFA works to ensure that the views of its member associations are communicated to government policy makers, the public, and those concerned with the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education.

To view awards by OCUFA, please vist their website.

Past UW OCUFA Winners

Year	Name	Department	Faculty
2004	Andrey, Jean	Geography	Environment
2000	Scoins, Ronald George	Mathematics	Mathematics
1993	Forsyth, Phyllis	Classical Studies	Arts
1987	Irish, Donald	Chemistry	Science
1979	Cummings, Laurence	Architecture	Engineering
1975	Seligman, Paul	Philosophy	Arts
1975	MacKinnon, Hugh	History	Arts
1973	Reilly, Park	Chemical Engineering	Engineering

3M Canada began collaborating with the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in 1986 with the creation of the 3M National Teaching Fellowships. These awards recognize teaching excellence as well as educational leadership. Up to ten Fellowships are awarded each year. The award includes a citation and an invitation to participate in a four-day retreat at Château Montebello in Quebec. This very popular retreat provides the winners with an opportunity to share past teaching experiences and discuss new ideas.

There are now 238 3M National Teaching Fellows scattered throughout Canada representing a broad range of academic disciplines. They work individually and collaboratively to enhance teaching and learning at their own institutions and through larger collaborative initiatives supported by the Society.

Nominations for the Fellowships are submitted by teachers on their own behalf, or by their colleagues. Candidates need not be members of STLHE.

To view awards by 3M, please vist their website.

Past UW 3M Winners

Year	Name	Department	Faculty
2010	Morgan, Alan	Earth and Environmental Sciences	Science
2004	Armitage, Howard	School of Accountancy	Arts
1986	Krueger, Ralph	Geography	Environment

Deadline: Grant applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, subject to availability of funds.

Waterloo International (WI) and the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) are pleased to announce a call for applications for Course Internationalization Grants for 2011-2012. Grants are open to full-time faculty members at UW.

The purpose of the grants is to encourage faculty members to infuse international perspectives into existing courses and to incorporate an international component in their teaching and learning activities. The recipient of the grant is asked to use the internationalization strategies that are best suited for their courses. Faculty are asked to provide a report at the end of the term stating the successes and challenges of the implemented activities.

Up to eight grants of $1500 each will be awarded in an academic year, subject to availability of funds. In order to apply, interested faculty members are asked to submit a short (3 pages maximum) application with the following information:
1) a brief description of the course
2) description of the proposed internationalization strategies and a rationale for them
3) a budget.

Recipients of the Course Internationalization Grants will be announced once a decision has been made. Recipients may be asked to make a public presentation at the conclusion of their project.

If you have any questions about the grants or want to schedule a consultation to discuss your ideas about internationalizing your course, please contact:

Svitlana Taraban-Gordon, PhD
Senior Instructional Developer
LIB 328
E-mail: staraban@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4567 ext. 37110

For more grant information visit:

• Strategies for Course Internationalization (Tip Sheet)
  
• Grant Recipients
  
• UW Study on Course Internationalization

Recommended resources:

• Internationalization of the Curriculum: A Practical Guide to Support Canadian Universities’ Efforts (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada):
• Internationalization of the Curriculum (James Cook University):
• Internationalizing the Curriculum Resource Kit (Oxford Brookes University):

The purpose of the LITE grants is to provide support for experimenting with and investigating innovative approaches to teaching that aim to foster deep student learning and enhance teaching at the University of Waterloo. The program replaces the LIF/PIF grant scheme and is composed of two kinds of grants: LITE Seed Grants and LITE Full Grants.  Both grant formats will emphasize the contribution of the proposal to the University of Waterloo learning community.

This document contains seven sections. Click on a link below to go directly to that section. You can also downloaded the document as a PDF here.

1. LITE Seed Grants – Description and Eligibility
2. LITE Full Grants – Description and Eligibility
3. Proposal Guidelines for both LITE Seed Grants and Full Grants
4. Adjudication Process and Review Criteria
5. Expectations of Grant Recipients
6. Completion Time and Reporting
7. Application Submission

1. LITE Seed Grants – Description and Eligibility

The intent of these grants is to foster improved student learning through the enhancement of individual teaching skills, course level or program-level (re)design, or curricular innovation.  They are available to both practitioners interested in improving deep learning in their course or program and to scholars of teaching and learning.

Amount: $500 - $5,000

Application Deadlines (3 annually): February 1, June 1, October 1.

Sample ideas for using LITE Seed Grant Funds include the following:

• Conduct a research-informed pilot investigation into the impact on student learning of a new or existing instructional method.  Investigations of current practices would be done to establish baselines on current learning impact before investigating the impact of a new method.  Such studies could serve as pilot studies for a LITE Full Grant proposal.
  
  
• Invite a guest speaker or facilitator to work with a Department, School, or Faculty to implement a different instructional approach and provide examples of methods for assessing learning (for example, peer instruction, case-based learning, problem-based learning).
  
  
• Attend a formal, recognized training session to learn how to use a new teaching method (for example, PBL experience at McMaster, Facilitator Development Workshop for Instructional Skills Workshops, Harvard Case Method). Individuals or teams may apply.
  
  
• Present pedagogical scholarship at a disciplinary or higher education teaching conference outside of the University of Waterloo. 
  
  
• Coordinate an inaugural departmental, school-wide, or Faculty-wide retreat focused on exchanging instructional innovations and best practices.

Ineligible Expenses

• Teaching release and the development of traditional course materials
• Equipment and software
• Regular teaching retreats, although meetings to begin such a practice would be
• Conference registration and travel expenses exceeding $2000
• Journal subscriptions and professional memberships

Eligibility as Principal Investigator

• Tenured and tenure-track faculty members
• Sessional lecturers with a continuing appointment
• Laboratory instructors and teaching staff
• Postdoctoral fellows
• Academic support staff

Note: A person may hold only one active grant at a time as principal investigator.

2. LITE Full Grants – Description and Eligibility

The LITE Full Grant encourages potentially longer-term initiatives to enhance teaching and learning at the University of Waterloo. The focus of these grants is to investigate new methods and assess their impact in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and transferability. These initiatives will normally have an evaluative component.  The funds for the Full grants may be substantially larger than the SEED grants because of the intended scope of the projects.  Multi-year projects may apply. 

Amount: $5,000- $15,000 per year (for a maximum of two years and $30,000)

Application Deadline: One deadline announced annually: October 1, 2012

Sample ideas for using LITE Full Grant Funds include the following:

• Conduct formal research projects on the impact of a specific new method of instruction on course learning or at the program level.
  
  
• Implement a change across a program or within a specific year of a program to address a learning gap or challenge, and document the impact on student learning.
  
  
• Support teaching initiatives/collaborations between Departments, Schools, or Faculties to address a specific learning gap or challenge and document its impact on student learning.
  
  
• Present pedagogical scholarship at a disciplinary or higher education teaching conference outside of the University of Waterloo as part of a larger research project.
  
  
• Redesign physical teaching and learning spaces.
  
  
• Purchase equipment (e.g., microphones, etc.) or software (e.g., data analysis software, etc.) to support implementation of the new method of instruction.
  
  
• In collaboration with the Centre for Extended Learning (CEL), help fund development where digital course materials, tools, or learning objects are part of the innovation. Note: Depending on the nature of the project, the CEL may be able to provide development support at minimal or no cost. You are encouraged to consult CEL before submission to discuss project needs and timelines, and include the resulting development plan in your submission.  

Ineligible Expenses

• Teaching release and the development of traditional course materials 
• Conference registration and travel expenses exceeding $2,000
• Journal subscriptions and professional memberships

Eligibility as Principal Investigator

• Tenured and tenure-track faculty members
• Sessional lecturers with a continuing appointment
• Laboratory instructors and teaching staff
• Academic support staff

Note: A person may hold only one active grant at a time as principal investigator.

3. Proposal Guidelines for both LITE Seed Grants and Full Grants

Important Notes:

• Proposals should be no longer than 1500 words (2-3 single-spaced pages), plus an additional page for the budget.
  
• For both LITE Seed and Full Grants, the signature of your Chair or Director is required to indicate approval of the project.
  
• Please refer to the report from “The Task Force on Innovative Teaching Practices to Promote Deep Learning at the University of Waterloo” (PDF) for important references and definitions of terms that may be central to your proposal, such as "innovative teaching practices," “deep learning,” and “effective teaching.”

1. Descriptive project title
   
   
2. Project goals/outcomes and Research Question(s) to be investigated (where applicable):
   What are the intended outcomes of the project, in terms of student learning and/or enhanced teaching? What specific question(s) would you like to investigate?
   
   
3. Project rationale and description, including review of relevant literature (where applicable):
   Why is this project needed? What is said in the literature – both the literature in your own discipline and in the educational literature about the issue(s) and question(s) being investigated?  If you would like help with this section of the proposal, we strongly advise that you seek advice from your liaison library and a member of the Centre for Teaching Excellence.
   
   
4. Plan/methods/procedures for carrying out and assessing the project:
   What data will be gathered?  What methods will be used to collect and analyse these data?  What is the plan for interpreting data in light of the intended outcomes of the project?  If your project includes digital media development, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from the Centre for Extended Learning.
   
   
5. Timeline:
   An overview of the project, which includes important deadlines and milestones (e.g., Ethics application deadlines, data collection completion, syntheses of best practices, etc.) should be included.
   
   
6. Outline of project’s broader impact -- contribution to the uWaterloo community and beyond:
   What contributions is the project intended to make to the various members of the University of Waterloo learning community?  For example, how might students, faculty members, people within and beyond your Department benefit from your work?  What connections might your work establish among people from different disciplines across campus? What is the potential impact of the project beyond the University – to the community of university teachers, for example? Might the project involve the creation of a “legacy” piece that could be used in the future by other instructors, both at the University of Waterloo and beyond?
   
   
7. Plan for dissemination:
   How will the results of the investigation be communicated?  There are multiple venues for sharing findings. These might range from more local venues (i.e., Department and Faculty levels) through Departmental newsletters, showcases of student work, etc.– to broader venues (i.e., University level and beyond) through conferences, journal publications, etc. For Seed Grants, a plan for dissemination at the local level is expected.  For Full Grants, the dissemination plan must address plans for both the local and broad levels.
   
   
8. Budget:
   An itemized list of the expenses as well as the justification for these expenses must be provided.  In this section, please also include details about any additional funding that has been obtained from other sources for the project.

4. Adjudication Process and Review Criteria

Adjudication process for Seed Grants:

Seed Grants will be reviewed by senior members of the Centre for Teaching Excellence: the Director and at least one Senior Instructional Developer or designate.

Adjudication process for Full Grants:

The adjudication committee will consist of four members selected by the Associate Vice-President, Academic Programs.  Two members of the Centre for Teaching Excellence – the Instructional Developer – Consulting and Research, and the Director – will facilitate the adjudication process, but will not be voting members.

Proposal Review Criteria for both Seed Grants and Full Grants

1. Adherence to the Submission Requirements:
   Does the proposal include all elements required under the LITE Grant Proposal Guidelines?
   
   
2. Clarity of Project Goals/Outcomes:
   Are the intended outcomes of the project clear in terms of student learning and/or enhanced teaching? Does the research question articulate a clearly-defined issue?
   
   
3. Project rationale and description, including review of relevant literature:
   Is a sound rationale established for the project?  Is this rationale based on a succinct review of the relevant literature? Does the proposal describe how the project will build upon and contribute to student learning and/or enhanced teaching?
   
   
4. Plans for carrying out and assessing the project:
   Is the plan for collecting, analysing, and interpreting the data appropriate for the issue being investigated? Does the proposal provide a clear plan for assessing the intended project outcomes?
   
   
5. Feasibility:
   Do the proposed timeline and budget seem realistic, given the scope of the project?
   
   
6. Impact and Transferability:
   Are the contributions of the project to the members of the University of Waterloo learning community clearly articulated? If appropriate, does the proposal outline the potential impact of the project beyond the University?  
   
   
7. Plan for dissemination:
   Are there clearly articulated plans for sharing the outcomes of the project with others at the University of Waterloo and beyond?

5. Expectations of Grant Recipients

For Seed Grants

• Submit the project for ethics approval and clearance, when necessary, with the University of Waterloo Office of Research Ethics.
  
  
• Participate in one or two meetings per semester where project questions and progress will be shared with other grant recipients.  These meetings will be hosted and facilitated by the Centre for Teaching Excellence.
  
  
• Disseminate findings of the project locally to the University of Waterloo learning community (as outlined in the Proposal Guidelines) and, if appropriate, disseminate findings more broadly.  Grant recipients may consult with members of the Centre for Teaching Excellence for support with dissemination.

For Full Grants

• Submit the project for ethics approval and clearance, when necessary, with the University of Waterloo Office of Research Ethics.
  
  
• Participate in one or two meetings per semester where project questions and progress will be shared with other grant recipients.  These meetings will be hosted and facilitated by the Centre for Teaching Excellence.
  
  
• Disseminate findings of the project locally to the University of Waterloo learning community and more broadly beyond the University.  Grant recipients may consult with members of the Centre for Teaching Excellence for support with dissemination.

6. Completion Time and Reporting

LITE Seed Grants
Funds for LITE Seed Grants need to be spent within one year. A final project report must be submitted to the Centre for Teaching Excellence.  A copy of the final report will also be provided to the Chair/Director of the recipient’s Department/School, as well as to the Associate Vice-President, Academic Programs.

LITE Full Grants
Funds for LITE Full Grants need to be spent within two years.  A progress report will be due at the end of year 1 and will be submitted to the Centre for Teaching Excellence. A final report will be due at the end of year 2, upon completion of the project.  The report will be submitted to the Centre for Teaching Excellence, to the Chair/Director of the recipient’s Department/School, and to the Associate Vice-President, Academic Programs.

7. Application Submission

For assistance with proposal development as well as developing the research plan for your project, applicants are strongly advised to contact Dr. Julie Timmermans or Shirley Hall.

Please provide four hard copies and one electronic copy of each application. Each application should be stapled and clearly marked “LITE Seed Grant Proposal” or “LITE Full Grant Proposal”.

Please submit completed hard copy applications to:

Dr. Julie Timmermans
Instructional Developer – Consulting and Research
Environment 1, Office 325
(519) 888-4567, extension 32940

Please submit your electronic copy in Microsoft Word to julie.timmermans@uwaterloo.ca .

The Office of Research works with UW faculty to:

• target funding opportunities for their specific research programs
• provide support with the grant application process
• administer successfully funded non-industry grant applications

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is an arm's-length federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the social sciences and humanities.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supports both basic university research through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people.

The Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI)is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

CANARIE -- Canada's advanced Internet development organization -- is a not-for-profit corporation supported by its members, project partners and the Federal Government. CANARIE also intends to act as a catalyst and partner with governments, industry and the research community to increase overall IT awareness, ensure continuing promotion of Canadian technological excellence and ultimately, foster long-term productivity and improvement of living standards.

The University of Waterloo is committed to enhancing the quality of the learning experience for our students and to continuing our history of innovative approaches to learning and teaching.  Proposals are requested from faculty and staff for research projects designed to enhance students’ learning processes and outcomes in undergraduate and graduate courses through instructional initiatives and/or the creation of new learning resources.

• Request for Proposals, 2011/2012
• Current Recipients
• Past LIF Projects
• Annual Project Update Forms and Final Report Forms for researchers
• LIF PIF Submission Support Materials
• LIF PIF Workshop Powerpoint Presentation

The University of Waterloo is committed to enhancing the quality of the learning experience for our students and to continuing our history of innovative approaches to learning and teaching.  Proposals are requested from faculty and staff for research projects about program development or renewal that are designed to support and enhance teaching practices and enrich student learning outcomes in undergraduate and graduate courses.

• Request for Proposals, 2011/2012
• Past PIF Projects
• Annual Project Update Forms and Final Report Forms for researchers
• LIF PIF Submission Support Materials
• LIF PIF Workshop Powerpoint Presentation