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Core Curriculum Teaching


Questions? Email facultyawards@utsa.edu.

TWO AWARDS:

  • One award for tenured/tenure-track faculty
  • One award for fixed-term-track faculty

Purpose of Award

This award is to recognize distinguished performance in teaching one or a set of core curriculum courses during the academic year of the award; innovation and involvement in core development projects; thoughtful engagement with the aims of the core curriculum; and excellence in teaching as demonstrated by standard measures of performance. This award will be of similar recognition, quality, character, and process to the other university-level faculty awards which are of high distinction and peer-reviewed at UTSA, signaling the key role of instructional quality and content in shaping what all UTSA graduates should know for their future roles in society.

Nominees must demonstrate excellence in core curriculum teaching in the following areas:

  • innovation and rigor in the classroom
  • a strong commitment to the aims and objectives of the core curriculum through innovative course development, assignments, and assessment
  • positive student response to and engagement with his/her instruction

Learn more about Core Curriculum at UTSA here.


Eligibility

Faculty nominated must have taught at least four consecutive long semesters (Fall-Spring) at UTSA. The awards are based on performance for the calendar year of the award. Priority will be given to candidates who have not previously won the award. Previous recipients of the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching will be eligible for nomination after seven years.


Criteria

The selection committee will consider the following criteria in selecting winners:

  • Degree to which the instructor has addressed the aims and state-required objectives of the Core Curriculum
  • Degree to which the instructor has demonstrated innovation and rigor in the course(s)
  • Evidence that students responded in positive ways to the nominee’s instruction
  • Degree to which nominee has demonstrated commitment to core curriculum

Nomination Materials

A selection committee composed of faculty will review nomination packets. The nomination packet for this award will consist of only the following, assembled into a single PDF file in the order indicated:

  1. Complete award nomination form
  2. Nomination letter from peer faculty colleague, department chair, or college leader
  3. Self-statement about teaching philosophy and commitment to core curriculum (2-page max)
  4. Course evaluations (2 courses max)
  5. Nomination letters from students (2 max)
  6. Recent course syllabi (2 courses max)
  7. CV of nominee

Optional:

  • Peer observations of teaching (2 max)

No additional materials should be submitted. Note that the award committee will place heavy emphasis on the self-statement and the faculty member's commitment to the Core Curriculum.

Each dean’s office should upload completed nomination packets by the deadline.

Each college may submit a maximum number of three nominees (1 Tenured, 1 Tenure-Track, 1 Fixed-Term Track).

SEE TABLE BELOW

College Maximum Number of Nominees
CEID 3
ACOB 3
COEHD 3
COLFA 3
COS 3
HCaP 3
University College 3
Honors College 3

Past Recipients

2023

Patrick Gallagher, Liberal and Fine Arts
Gina Amatangelo, HCAP

2022

Dr. Rebecca Schroeder, University College

2021

Mariah Hopkins, Sciences
Michael Cepek, Liberal and Fine Arts

2020

David Matiella, Architecture, Construction & Planning
Luca Pozzi, Liberal and Fine Arts

2019

Todd Wright, University College

2018

Thad Bartlett, Liberal and Fine Arts
Terri Matiella, Sciences

2017 

Sonia Alconini, Liberal and Fine Arts
Dixie Shaw-Tillmon, University College

2016 

Gregory Hazleton, University College

2015 

Sue Hum, Liberal and Fine Arts
Jodi Peterson, Liberal and Fine Arts

2014 

John Helton, University College

2013 

Lydia Martinez-Rivera, Sciences

2012 

Joel Christensen, Liberal and Fine Arts
Kimberly Massaro, Business

2011 

Kirsten Gardner, Liberal and Fine Arts
Lindsay G. Ratcliffe, Writing Core Program

2010 

Ermine F. Orta, Management Science and Statistics

2009 

Shelley E. Roff, Architecture
Deborah Wagner, Liberal and Fine Arts

2008 

Eric Swanson, Sciences
Alycia Maurer, Education and Human Development

2007 

Marian Aitches, Liberal and Fine Arts

2006 

John M. Giggie, Liberal and Fine Arts
Timothy Strudell, Business

2005 

Robert Collinge, Business
Richard Welch, Business

 

2004 

Sharon Navarro, Liberal and Fine Arts
Joleen Beltrami, Business

2003 

Mark A. Blizard, Architecture
Vincent A. Di Martino (Posthumous Award), Business

2002 

Su Zhou, Business
Deanna White, Liberal and Fine Arts

2001 

Amy Jasperson, Liberal and Fine Arts

2000 

Ronald M. Ayers, Business
Patricia A. Brewer, Sciences and Engineering

1999 

Linda Brandt Collins, Sciences and Engineering
John Rayko, Sciences and Engineering

1998 

Robert Collinge, Business
Christine Caver, Fine Arts and Humanities

1997 

David M. Senseman, Sciences and Engineering
Sabine F. Thomas, Sciences and Engineering

1996 

Christopher Egan, Fine Arts and Humanities

1995 

Judith B. Sobre, Fine Arts and Humanities