Carnegie Mellon University

UNIVERSITY AWARDS RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO EXEMPLIFY CMU'S STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Each spring, the CMU community gathers to honor distinguished faculty and educators for outstanding contributions in the areas of...
Substantial & Sustained Contributions to Education
Teaching Excellence & Innovation | Advising & Mentorship  |  Outreach & Service


Substantial & Sustained Contributions to Education

Doherty Award for Sustained Excellence in Education

Award criteria: This award recognizes a member of the Carnegie Mellon University community for substantial and sustained contributions to excellence in education, above and beyond teaching courses and mentoring students, based on: 

  1. contributions to the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative and/or impactful educational programs and/or materials at all levels, 
  2. the creation and maintenance of learning environments at CMU that foster excellence in education, including, but not limited to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and/or
  3. impacts on enhancing higher education via scholarship and/or service resulting in the development, dissemination and/or adoption of evidence-based, high-impact, and/or transformational educational practices, at CMU and beyond.

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Teaching Excellence & Innovation

Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching

Award criteria: This award recognizes sustained devotion to and effectiveness in teaching undergraduate or graduate students across one’s teaching career at Carnegie Mellon University based on: 

  1. outstanding, innovative, and inclusive course design and classroom teaching,
  2. effective design and impactful implementation of new learning materials,
  3. excellent mentorship of student research or creative projects, 
  4. impacts on the professional development of graduate- and undergraduate student instructors as current and future educators, and/or
  5. long-term impacts on students.

Nominate | Past Recipients

 

Teaching Innovation Award

Award criteria: This award recognizes innovative teaching practices at the level of individual Carnegie Mellon University courses, class sessions, or assessments based on the:

  1. originality of a teaching strategy or how it was implemented,
  2. impact on student learning and/or engagement, and/or
  3. potential to adopt the teaching strategy (or key elements thereof) within or across disciplines.

Innovative topical course content (e.g., the first course on ice hockey analytics) is NOT a criterion or sufficient for this award.

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Graduate Student Teaching Award

Award criteria: This award recognizes excellence in teaching by graduate student instructors at Carnegie Mellon University based on outstanding and effective: 

  1. teaching in the classroom, laboratory or studio, review sessions, and/or office hours,
  2. creation or use of new and innovative teaching methods and course materials,
  3. design and/or delivery of impactful and innovative courses, and/or
  4. use of inclusive teaching practices that support all students.

Nominate | Past Recipients

 


Advising & Mentorship

Award for Outstanding Contributions to Academic Advising and Mentoring

Award criteria: This award recognizes the achievement of excellence in advising undergraduate students at Carnegie Mellon University based on sustained and outstanding: 

  1. support in helping students define and achieve their academic goals,
  2. impacts on students’ personal development and long-term career goals, and/or
  3. contributions to enhancing the effectiveness of academic advising at CMU.

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Lazarus Award for Student and Faculty Mentoring

Award criteria: This award recognizes sustained and exemplary contributions to fostering a welcoming and nurturing environment for graduate students and junior faculty at Carnegie Mellon University based on:

  1. excellence in mentorship,
  2. long-term influence on mentees’ personal and professional development, and/or 
  3. impacts fostering equity, inclusion, well-being, and a welcoming climate.

Nominate | Past Recipients

 


Outreach & Service

Gelfand Service Award for Educational Outreach

Award criteria: This award recognizes sustained and exemplary contributions in educational outreach based on:

  1. engaging CMU students in working with individuals or groups to share their knowledge and broaden access to educational experiences in local or global communities, 
  2. embedding effective community-based learning activities within academic coursework, and/or
  3. facilitating a deliberate process of student reflection to advance their own learning experience, teach social responsibility and improve some aspect of life in the community.

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Graduate Student Service Award

Award criteria: This award recognizes exemplary service provided by graduate students to improve the graduate student experience at Carnegie Mellon University based on exemplary contributions towards: 

  1. advancing the interests of fellow graduate students, 
  2. improving graduate students’ quality of life on campus, and/or
  3. contributions serving the larger academic community at the department-, college- or university-level, including, but not limited to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 

Note: This is NOT a teaching award and does not recognize a graduate student’s contributions as a teaching assistant or instructor of record.

Nominate | Past Recipients

 

UNIVERSITY AWARDS RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO EXEMPLIFY CMU'S STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION