CENTRE for TEACHING and LEARNING
Awards
Excellence in teaching is at the centre of everything we do at MacEwan University. It is our point of pride, the reason we’re here.
Each year, we recognize faculty at all stages of their careers and from across all programs through four teaching awards:
- Distinguished Teaching
- Teaching Leadership
- Early Career Teaching Excellence
- Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence
If you know a faculty member who has had a positive impact on students at MacEwan, nominate them for a teaching award.
The deadline for 2026 nominations is Friday, January 30, 2026, at 4 p.m. Announcements and presentations will be made at a later date.
Nomination process
Nominations are submitted through the Teaching Awards Platform using your MacEwan credentials. All nominators must complete and submit the online nomination form by Friday, January 30 at 4 p.m.
Faculty members at MacEwan University may be nominated by colleagues or by current or former students including alumni. Each award requires a minimum number of faculty/staff and student/alumni nominators. The required numbers vary by award (see below). Faculty members may self-nominate, but self-nominations do not count toward the required number of nominators.
| Award | # of Student nominators | # of Faculty nominators |
|---|---|---|
| Distinguished Teaching | 3 | 2 |
| Teaching Leadership | 1 | 3 |
| Sessional Teaching Excellence | 2 | 1 |
| Early Career Excellence | 2 | 2 |
If you are submitting a nomination, you are encouraged to do the following:
- Invite colleagues or students to also submit a nomination form for the same nominee.
- Ask your nominee to suggest colleagues or students who may wish to support your nomination.
Alumni who no longer have a MacEwan email address should contact teachingawards@macewan.ca to submit their nomination form.
Nominations for 2026 opening soon.
Awards criteria
Discover what teaching excellence looks like through the awards criteria below, and how we celebrate teaching.
Instructional faculty members who have not previously received the Distinguished Teaching Award are eligible (see the list of past award winners). A maximum of four awards will be presented each year.
To be awarded a Distinguished Teaching Award, nominees must demonstrate outstanding teaching at the undergraduate level and a commitment to educational leadership and innovation.
Teaching Excellence
Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment by engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:
- Motivating students to learn and engage in the course.
- Creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity.
- Demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning.
- Providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching.
- Using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning.
- Seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice.
- Applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice.
Teaching Leadership
Teaching leadership involves a significant transformation in teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level. Instructors demonstrate leadership in the following ways:
- leading collaborative initiatives that enhance student learning
- engaging in activities that recognize and reward teaching
- inspiring teaching improvement in others through collegial support, mentorship, professional development leadership, teaching resource development and other systematic efforts
- contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within and beyond MacEwan University
- contributing teaching and learning expertise in ways that have influence beyond one’s practice, including sharing knowledge and research with others
- contributing to workshops or other opportunities about teaching and learning
- leading or making significant and identifiable contributions to creating or improving institutional policies related to teaching and learning (e.g., teaching evaluation, promotion and tenure guidelines, academic advising, accessibility and inclusion)
Educational Innovation
Educational innovation is the novel execution of practices and activities that contribute to more effective teaching and learning practices. Instructors demonstrate innovation in the following ways:
- applying evidence-based practices to innovate course design
- aligning curriculum with institutional strategic priorities
- using appropriate technology to enhance the teaching and learning experience
- demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness in the application of teaching modalities
Any member of the Faculty Association of Grant MacEwan University is eligible for the Teaching Leadership Award, provided that they have not previously received the Teaching Leadership Award.
A maximum of four awards will be presented each year. Nominations are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which can include but are not limited to the requirements:
- Demonstrate contributions to the significant transformation of teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level.
- Develop initiatives that encourage innovative practices designed to improve student learning experiences and outcomes.
- Develop curricula, programs or courses that reflect and effectively advance institutional priorities.
- Demonstrate leadership in activities that engage or support students above and beyond the expected roles and responsibilities of faculty.
- Contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within and beyond MacEwan University.
- Contribute to workshops or other opportunities about teaching and learning.
- Promote a more inclusive, equitable and diverse learning environment.
- Serve in leadership roles on regional, national or international organizations dedicated to the teaching of a disciplinary or general focus.
Instructional faculty at the university are eligible for an Early Career Teaching Excellence Award, provided that they have the following:
- less than five years of instructional experience
- not previously received the Early Career Teaching Excellence Award
A maximum of four awards will be presented each year. Nominations are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which can include but are not limited to the requirements.
Teaching Excellence
Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment by engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:
- motivating students to learn and engage in the course
- creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity
- demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning
- providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching
- using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning
- seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice
- applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice
Developing Teaching Leadership
Evidence of ongoing development and potential for excellence in educational leadership, which can include but are not limited to the requirements:
- Demonstrate evidence of reflective and scholarly practice in teaching.
- Inspire teaching improvement in others through collegial support, mentorship, professional development leadership, teaching resource development and other systematic efforts.
- Demonstrate leadership in the design or development of an inclusive strategy, course or program of study.
- Demonstrate leadership in teaching and learning at the department or program level.
- Demonstrate evidence of personal ongoing professional development in teaching.
All sessional instructional faculty are eligible for a Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence Award provided that they have the following:
- taught two or more courses in the last two years
- not received the Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence Award in the previous five years
A maximum of four awards will be presented each year. Nominations are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which can include but are not limited to the requirements.
Teaching Excellence
Teaching excellence refers to the intentional and reflective actions of an instructor to create an exceptional learning environment through engaging in pedagogical practices designed to maximize student learning. Sessional instructors demonstrate excellence in the following ways:
- motivating students to learn and engage in the course
- creating a learning environment that acknowledges, respects and values diversity
- demonstrating involvement and support for student engagement and learning
- providing a flexible and adaptable approach to teaching
- using diverse and inclusive assessments to evaluate student learning
- seeking ways to engage in continuous improvement of teaching practice
- applying feedback received as part of the continuous improvement of teaching practice
Information for nominees
Successful nominees will be contacted after the nomination period closes. If nominees accept the nominations, they are responsible for submitting supporting documentation by the deadline. Information will be provided when contacted.
To support their nomination, the nominees prepare a nomination package for the Adjudication Committee. Nomination packages/dossiers must be submitted through the Teaching Awards Platform using the link provided. Instructions will be provided to those contacted.
The nomination package must be a single PDF document that follows the relevant maximum:
- 20 pages for the Distinguished Teaching Award
- 10 pages for the Sessional Excellence, Early Career Excellence and Teaching Leadership awards
Nomination packages may include the following:
- an abbreviated CV
- a statement of teaching philosophy
- evidence of teaching effectiveness (sample syllabi and assignments, summary of student evaluations, etc.)
- a statement of educational leadership (maximum 500 words). Note: the Sessional Excellence award does not have this requirement.
- evidence of educational leadership, such as curricular or course development, program enhancement, student activities and projects, etc.
Do not include full printouts of student feedback forms unless asked to do so.
Copies of the nomination materials are circulated to all members of the Adjudication Committee for review.
Before the selection meeting, committee members evaluate each nomination package against the published criteria.
The committee makes its recommendations to the Provost, who confirms the award recipients and notifies the successful candidates.
Key dates
| Nominations open | Mid to late November |
| Nominations close | Friday, January 30, 4 p.m. |
| Supporting documentation required | March 31 |
| Award recipients contacted (by Provost) | Mid-May |
Questions?
If you need assistance with your nomination or have a question, please email us at teachingawards@macewan.ca.
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