All nominations will require a 300 word description, please refer to the criteria below when writing up your nomination. Though not required, you may also upload one letter of support for each nomination.
Excellence in Teaching Freshmen Inquiry
FRINQ Award Description
One award is given annually to a faculty member teaching Freshman Inquiry who has demonstrated Excellence in Teaching. Excellence in Teaching means inspiring students to be curious about themselves and others, our histories, and the systems we live in, thus realizing one’s social responsibility. It requires facilitating the integration of ideas and experience, while equipping students with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to become lifelong learners.
This outstanding instructor is connected to the subject matter as well as the students. They build meaningful relationships with their students. They are a passionate, creative instructor who crafts a learning experience that demonstrates:
- Integrated learning.
- Transformational experiences.
- Availability to, and personal interest in students.
- Promotion of diversity and the value of difference.
- Encouragement of self-expression and exploration.
This excellent instructor builds an interdisciplinary pedagogy that inspires students to actively engage with their Freshman Inquiry themes.
FRINQ Nomination Criteria:
- Indications of application of coursework to future/other coursework/bigger issues (integrated learning and social responsibility) world-mindedness, experiential learning and community based learning.
- Transformational learning -- discovery, light bulb moments, and mind changed or opened.
- Availability and personal interest or concern of professor for student -- sense of connection, impact, empathy, mentoring.
- Promoting diversity through interactive activities and group work -- recognizing the value of diversity/differences, navigation of difference.
- Encouraging self-expression and engagement -- identity learning.
- Challenge, controversy and critical thinking.
- Passionate, creative, motivated, engaged, interested.
- Student reported responsiveness.
- Eligible instructors must have taught Freshman Inquiry for the last two consecutive academic years and is still with the program.
Excellence in Teaching Sophomore Inquiry
SINQ Award Description
The Sophomore Inquiry learning experience provides an introduction to the UNST Clusters and acts as a bridge for many students into the University Studies Program. The SINQ program challenges students to inquire, investigate and take intellectual risks within three separate interdisciplinary fields of inquiry. It requires skilled instructors who are dedicated to both the mission and goals of the University Studies program. Instructors may teach students from all levels of the undergraduate experience from Freshman to Seniors.
This award is given annually to a faculty member teaching Sophomore Inquiry who has demonstrated excellence in teaching. Excellence in teaching Sophomores means inspiring students to be curious about themselves and others, our histories, and the systems we live in; thus realizing one’s social responsibility. It requires facilitating the integration of ideas and experience, while equipping students with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to become lifelong learners.
This outstanding instructor is connected to the subject matter as well as the students. They build meaningful relationships with their students and demonstrate active engagement with the goals and mission of University Studies. They are a passionate, creative instructor who crafts a learning experience that demonstrates:
- Integrated learning
- Transformational experiences
- Availability to, and personal interest in, students
- Promotion of diversity and the value of difference
- Encouragement of self-expression and exploration
- An ability to work with graduate mentors, from any disciplinary background, in order to create meaningful and engaging mentor sessions
- Success with helping students understand how SINQ is part of General Education at PSU
This excellent instructor builds an interdisciplinary pedagogy that inspires students to actively engage with their Cluster themes.
SINQ Nomination Criteria:
- This excellent instructor builds and interdisciplinary pedagogy that inspires students to actively engage with their Cluster themes
- Indications of application of coursework to future/other coursework/bigger issues (integrated learning and social responsibility) world-mindedness, experiential learning and community based learning.
- Transformational learning -- discovery, light bulb moments, and mind changed or opened.
- Availability and personal interest or concern of professor for student -- sense of connection, impact, empathy, mentoring.
- Promoting diversity through interactive activities and group work -- recognizing the value of diversity/differences, navigation of difference.
- Encouraging self-expression and engagement -- identity learning.
- Challenge, controversy and critical thinking.
- Passionate, creative, motivated, engaged, interested.
- Student reported responsiveness.
- Eligible instructors must have taught Sophomore Inquiry for the last two consecutive academic years (including this one).
Excellence in Teaching Senior Capstone
Capstone Award Description
Capstone courses build cooperative learning communities by engaging students in community-based learning activities that are significant to communities. Students bring together the knowledge, skills, and interests developed through all aspects of their education, to work on a meaningful community project of substance. Capstone courses are designed as relational educational experiences that facilitate transformational learning experiences for students. This frequently includes new insights about diverse communities, new skills to unpack power and privilege, a deeper awareness of one’s own privilege and a keener understanding of root causes to persistent social issues. In these courses students from a variety of majors and backgrounds work as a team, pooling resources, and collaborating with faculty and community leaders to understand and find solutions for issues that are important to them as literate and engaged citizens. This award is meant to recognize and celebrate excellence in teaching University Studies Capstone courses.
This outstanding instructor is connected to the subject matter as well as the students. They build meaningful relationships with their students. They are a passionate, creative instructor who crafts a learning experience that demonstrates:
- The opportunities for students to deepen their learning in each of the University Studies goals. Especially in the areas of social responsibility, diversity, equity and social justice.
- Evidence of on-going reflective learning for students throughout the term.
- Sustained relationships with one or more meaningful long-term community partnership that enhanced student learning through community engaged work.
Capstone Nomination Criteria:
- Capstone course(s) facilitates transformational learning experiences for majority of students.
- Develops cooperative learning communities between students and community partners.
- Creates learning environments that produce strong outcomes for community partners.
- Promotes diversity, equity and social justice through recognizing the values of differences and working to build more equitable communities.
- Demonstrates creative teaching strategies and reflective assignments as well as a passion for engaged learning and equity.
- Eligible faculty member must have taught at least 30 credits of Capstone courses and is still currently teaching Capstones at Portland State University.
Previous Awards
2016 FreshmanTeaching Award is Chris Carey, Associate Professor Criminology & Criminal Justice.
2017 Freshman Inquiry Teaching Award, Alan MacCormack, Emeritus Professor '17
2017 Capstone Teaching Award, Deborah Rutt, Capstone Instructor
2018 Freshman Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: Sarah Wolf Newlands, MFA
2018 Sophomore Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: Daneen Bergland, MA
2018 Capstone Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Khalil Zonoozy
2019 Freshman Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: David Peterson del Mar, Ph.D.
2019 Sophomore Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: Cassio de Oliveira, Ph.D
2019 Capstone Excellence in Teaching Award: Zapoura Newton-Calvert, M.A.
2020 Freshman Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: Tony Wolk, Ph.D.
2020 Sophomore Inquiry Excellence in Teaching Award: Bennett Gilbert, M.A.
2020 Capstone Excellence in Teaching Award: Anmarie Trimble, M.A.