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The Award
One of the central objectives of the University Honors Program is to place students of exceptional promise under the tutelage of some of the University’s most successful research scholars and classroom teachers. Scholars daily engaged in advancing the frontiers of knowledge in their fields often bring unparalleled excitement and innovation to the classroom. In order to identify, celebrate, and encourage participation in honors instruction by accomplished scholars, the University Honors program annually sponsors several Teacher/Scholar Awards.
This year, up to three Teacher/Scholars will be designated for the 2006-2007 academic year. Recipients of the award receive a grant of $4,000. These funds may be used for any purpose that enhances the Teacher/Scholar’s research or teaching. The purchase of equipment, professional travel, summer salary, course development, instructional innovation, and academic computing are among the possible uses for the grant. The 2006-2007 Teacher/Scholars will be recognized at Parents Weekend Honors Brunch.
To be nominated for an award, faculty members must have taught a minimum of six credit hours of honors courses during the last three academic years. In meeting this requirement, faculty may count each advisee in the University Undergraduate Fellows Program, two advisees pursuing Honors Independent Study, or three students completing Honors Contracts as equivalent to a three-hour honors course. Nominees are expected to have proven records of excellence in teaching and research.
Eligible faculty members should send their applications with supporting documentation to Honors Programs Advisory Committee, Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, 101 Academic Building (4233 TAMU). The deadline for 2006-2007 Teacher/Scholar is October 31, 2006. For additional information, please contact Professor Kurt Ritter, 101 Academic Building, e-mail kurt-ritter@tamu.edu, phone 845-1957.
Application Dossier
Each application must include:
- Application Form provided by the University Honors Program (access here).
- A one-page version of the applicant’s curriculum vita.
- Statement by the applicant (one to two pages) addressing the following question: “What are the qualities of your honors classes (and/or your honors independent studies courses and/or your honors contracts) as compared with regular classes and directed studies courses?”
- Syllabi for the honors courses taught during the last three years.
- Final report to the University Honors Office on the senior honors thesis of each Undergraduate Research Fellow you advised. (If that report is not available, a concise synopsis of the honors thesis will suffice.)
- Honors Independent Study/Honors Contract application form for each student you supervised in that capacity. (If an application form is not available, a concise synopsis of that honors independent study or honors contract will suffice.)
- One letter of recommendation solicited by the candidate addressing the scope of scholarly achievement. This letter should be submitted to the Honors Programs Advisory Committee, Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, 101 Academic Building (4233 TAMU) by October 31, 2006.
Selection Process
The Honors Programs Advisory Committee (a reporting committee of the Faculty Senate chaired by the Executive Director of the Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships) will select 2006-2007 Teacher/Scholars based upon the following considerations:
- Contribution and commitment to honors education measured in terms of the nominee’s participation in the honors programs at Texas A&M University.
- Embodiment of the Teacher/Scholar ideal, a combination of teaching and scholarship excellence. The letter of recommendation should specifically address this issue.
- Prospect that the Teacher/Scholar award would enhance the recipient’s teaching/research activities.
Click here for the 2006-2007 Teacher/Scholar Application.
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