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 five teaching awards:
- Distinguished Teaching
- Teaching Leadership
- Early Career Teaching Excellence
- Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence
- Teaching and Learning Impact
Awards criteria
Each award has a specific set of criteria. Use these criteria when submitting your teaching award application.
Instructional faculty members who have not previously received the Distinguished Teaching Award are eligible. Check the list of past award winners to see if someone is eligible. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.
This award honours sustained and distinguished achievements in teaching, educational leadership and innovation over the course of an academic career. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these 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
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
Instructional faculty members who have not received the Teaching Leadership in the past five years are eligible. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.
This award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership in advancing teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements:
- Demonstrating contributions to the significant transformation of teaching and learning at an institutional, disciplinary, community or societal level
- Developing initiatives that encourage innovative practices designed to improve student learning experiences and outcomes
- Developing curricula, programs or courses that reflect and effectively advance institutional priorities
- Demonstrating leadership in activities that engage or support students above and beyond the expected roles and responsibilities of faculty
- Contributing to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) within and beyond MacEwan University
- Contributing to workshops or other opportunities about teaching and learning
- Promoting a more inclusive, equitable and diverse learning environment
- Serving in leadership roles on regional, national or international organizations dedicated to the teaching of a disciplinary or general focus
Instructional faculty who have not previously received the Early Career Teaching Excellence Award are eligible, provided they have less than five years of instructional experience as a full-time continuing faculty member at MacEwan University. Evidence from prior teaching experience will not be considered. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.
This award recognizes outstanding teaching and emerging educational leadership among new instructional faculty members. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these 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 is not limited to the following requirements:
- Demonstrating evidence of reflective and scholarly practice in teaching
- Inspiring teaching improvement in others through collegial support, mentorship, professional development leadership, teaching resource development and other systematic efforts
- Demonstrating leadership in the design or development of an inclusive strategy, course or program of study
- Demonstrating leadership in teaching and learning at the department or program level
- Demonstrating evidence of personal ongoing professional development in teaching
Sessional instructional faculty who have not received the Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence Award in the previous five years are eligible, provided they have taught two or more courses in the last two years at MacEwan University. A maximum of four awards are presented each year.
This award recognizes excellence in teaching among sessional faculty. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these 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
All faculty and staff are eligible for the Teaching and Learning Impact Award. Individuals or teams are eligible for this award. A maximum of four awards are presented each year, with up to two reserved for the recognition of individuals and up to two reserved for teams.
This award recognizes a teaching or learning innovation, initiative or contribution that has made a significant and meaningful impact on students, colleagues, programs, the university and/or the broader community. Dossiers are assessed based on evidence of the following criteria, which may include, but are not limited to, these requirements.
- Significantly improving student learning, experience, success, persistence or engagement
- Improving accessibility, inclusion or participation for diverse learners
- Partnering with students to co-create curriculum for improving teaching and learning
- Developing a teaching practice or innovation that influences, supports or builds the capacity of colleagues to improve teaching and learning
- Mobilizing or disseminating knowledge to influence teaching and learning beyond the original context
- Designing, or redesigning, curriculum that substantially improves student learning experiences
- Creating experiential, interdisciplinary, community-engaged or work-integrated learning opportunities that provide meaningful benefits for both students and partners
- Advancing institutional practices, policies, processes or priorities related to teaching, learning, inclusion, student success or engagement
- Creating open educational resources, teaching resources or other contributions that benefit learners and/or educators beyond the original context
Faculty can submit a teaching award application through the Teaching Awards platform. Please refer to the award descriptions for criteria and eligibility information. See the specific application guidelines below.
Teaching award applications are submitted for adjudication by the Teaching Awards Committee through the Teaching Awards Platform according to the requirements below. Applications that do not comply with these requirements do not get adjudicated. In the case of a team, a single award application is submitted by one individual on behalf of the team.
Page limits
- 20 pages for the Distinguished Teaching Award
- 10 pages for all other teaching awards
Documents excluded from the page limit
The following are not required but may be included; they will be considered in adjudication where relevant:
- abbreviated CV, up to 2 pages
- cover page
- table of contents
- references/literature cited (referencing style at the discretion of the applicant)
Formatting requirements
All documents submitted as part of the application must align with the following formatting guidelines to ensure consistency and equitable review:
- font: Arial, minimum 11-point
- page size: letter (8.5 × 11 inches)
- margins: minimum 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
- line spacing: minimum 1.15
- paragraph spacing: minimum 6 points after each paragraph
- alignment: left-aligned
- page numbers: required on all pages
- tables and figures: permitted where they contribute meaningfully to the presentation of evidence; table text must also be Arial 11 pt.
- accessibility: Applications should include alternative text for meaningful images or figures. Colour may be used but must not be required to understand the information. Sufficient contrast must be maintained for accessibility.
- file format: Submit the completed application as a single PDF.
- Only the application contents will be evaluated. Additional material provided through hyperlinks, appendices or other means will not be considered.
- Please do not include full printouts of student feedback forms.
The specified font, font size, margins and spacing are intended to establish a consistent amount of content per page and support equitable comparison of applications. Applicants should not reduce font size, margins, or spacing to accommodate additional content.
Application contents
Application contents will vary depending on the award criteria and the specific application.
- Where teaching excellence is considered in the award criteria, include a statement of teaching philosophy (no more than 2 pages) along with evidence of how this aligns with teaching practices and student learning.
- Where teaching leadership is considered in the award criteria, include a statement of teaching leadership (no more than 2 pages) along with supporting evidence.
- Evidence should be provided from multiple sources where possible, for example, teaching materials examples, the nominee’s self-reflections, summaries of student feedback and feedback from colleagues.
Statements or letters of support
- Up to four letters or statements of support can be included. These should not be included in the application and will not count against the page limit.
- Applicants send up to four invitations to students or colleagues to provide a letter or statement of support through the Teaching Awards Platform.
- Applicants will not see the content of these letters but will be able to see if they are submitted.
- If an invitation is not acted upon, the applicant can withdraw the invitation at any time and send it to someone else.
- Letters or statements of support are not required to apply for a teaching award, but they may be considered in adjudication.
- Completed teaching award applications are circulated to the Teaching Awards Committee for adjudication.
- Before the selection meeting, committee members evaluate each application against the published criteria.
- The committee makes its recommendation to the provost, who confirms the award recipients and notifies the successful candidates.
Key dates
| Teaching award submissions open | November 1 |
| Teaching award submissions close | January 31 |
| Award recipients contacted (by Provost) | No later than Mid-May |
Frequently asked questions
Further questions?
If you have questions that are not answered above, please email us at teachingawards@macewan.ca.
Please let your professor know you wish to nominate them. The professor can open an application and send you a request for your statement of support.
Please let your colleague know you wish to nominate them. The colleague can open an application and send you a request for your statement of support.
No. Faculty can choose to request up to four letters of support through the Teaching Awards Platform. Letters or statements of support are not required to apply for a teaching award, but they may be considered in adjudication.
No. To maintain neutrality, CTL staff may not provide letters of support.
No. However, they may provide guidance on specific components such as your teaching philosophy, and they will offer a session on preparing your teaching award application. See the program schedule to register or contact teaching@macewan.ca.
Yes. You can find the guidelines in the How to apply section above.
Please refer to the award descriptions above for criteria and eligibility information. When submitting an application, you will be asked eligibility questions to ensure you meet these criteria.
Get recognition and increase MacEwan’s reputation outside of our campus environment when you apply for external funding and awards. Dozens of awards that focus on post-secondary teaching excellence and on the scholarship of teaching and learning are available to you.
Meet the faculty members who have been honoured for their exceptional dedication to teaching and learning at MacEwan University.
