About the Excellence in Teaching Award

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Excellence in Teaching Award provides a way to recognize faculty members who have consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching, dedication to student success and the mission of the college, and whose contributions go above and beyond the standard expectations. Faculty in curriculum, occupational extension and basic skills programs may be eligible for this award. Please see below for an overview of eligibility criteria and the selection process.

Award Committee

The Excellence in Teaching Award Committee will be chaired by the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning and comprised of the following members:

• Faculty Association representative
• Student Government Association President or representative
• Two former Excellence in Teaching nominees
• One academic dean and one support dean on a rotating schedule

Eligibility

Full-Time Faculty

• Teaching a minimum of 9 contact or credit hours per semester per year (during the most recent fall and spring semester).
• Recipients from the two previous years may not be nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award.

Adjunct (Part-Time) Faculty

• Taught a minimum of 6 contact or credit hours (during the most recent fall and spring semester).
• Employed with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College for at least 3 consecutive years.
• Recipients from the two previous years may not be nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award.

The General Assembly has provided monies to reward superior faculty who go above and beyond the expected levels of delivering instruction and improving educational excellence as demonstrated by student outcomes. Instructors in curriculum, occupational extension, and basic skills programs will be eligible for this award. Award recipients will receive a travel allowance to be used for approved professional development activities, instructional supplies and/or equipment needs for a specific program or academic improvement project, provided by the General Assembly.

Evaluation & Selection Process

The award committee will be responsible for selecting the award recipients. Each committee member will evaluate candidate materials and provide a score for each area. All committee reviews will be averaged and totaled to obtain an overall score for each candidate. The committee will select the top scoring full-time and part-time faculty member as the two Excellence in Teaching award recipients. The full-time award winner will be submitted as Rowan-Cabarrus’ nominee for the North Carolina Community College System RJ Reynolds Excellence in Teaching Award.

Nomination Guidelines

• Any current Rowan-Cabarrus student, faculty, or staff member may nominate up to five faculty.
• Self-nominations will not be accepted.
• Student nominations must be a result of the student’s decision to nominate a faculty member.
• Incomplete nominations will not be accepted.
• Members of the award committee may not be nominated or provide nominations for other candidates.

Excellence in Teaching Award Criteria

Quality Instruction and effective learning strategies

• Innovation in Active Learning techniques in the classroom
• Possesses current and extensive knowledge in subject areas of teaching responsibilities
• Continually incorporates current subject knowledge and new skills into the teaching arena
• Conveys enthusiasm for the subject and the profession
• Encourages discussion, intellectual curiosity, self-directed learning, and problem-solving
• Uses effective, innovative teaching methods and technologies
• Assesses teaching effectiveness and makes necessary adjustments
• Provides fair and constructive evaluation of student performance

Character modeling

• Shows genuine interest in and respect for student needs/concerns
• Creates a climate of respect, trust and concern
• Demonstrates a willingness to be available to students
• Expresses enthusiasm and enjoyment for teaching and working with students
• Demonstrates ethical principles, values and characteristics in student/faculty and collegial relationships

Supports the mission of the College, NC Community College System, and Community

• Leadership beyond the classroom to include non-teaching duties such as curriculum development, lab facilities management, new course development, club leadership, etc.
• Involvement in the local community with particular emphasis placed on activities on behalf of or resulting from employment with the college
• Involvement in professional groups