Senate Teaching and Learning Committee

According to Oakland University Senate legislation the Teaching and Learning Committee will consist of six faculty; four students; two administrative professionals; and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee), ex- officio and non-voting.

Purpose of Grant:

To provide funding (ranging from $100-$750) for the purchase of resources/materials that enhance the development of teaching and learning.

Acceptable Requests include, but are not limited to:

• Registration and travel to Teaching and Learning Conference, seminar, symposium, consultation
• Travel costs to teaching and learning sites (i.e. observing innovative practices at other universities, centers, etc.)
• Fees for participation in Teaching and Learning Webinars
• Purchasing of books, software, materials to enhance teaching and learning
• Honorarium for guest speakers/consultants on teaching and learning (up to $200)

This grant does not to support:

• Faculty or student stipends
• Accreditation preparation

Eligibility:

(Open to Full and Part-Time Faculty)

Tenure-track, tenured faculty, full-time teaching instructors (i.e. special instructors, full-time adjunct and visiting professors), special lecturers and part-time instructors who have taught a minimum of 24 credits at Oakland may apply for the grant. Each application must be supported (signature on cover sheet) by the applicant’s chair/program director. Two or more faculty working collaboratively may submit a proposal for a single grant with division of payment for each participant indicated. Individuals are eligible for a maximum of $750 in any academic year.

Proposal will include (use Proposal Template):

1. Name of faculty/instructor
2. Rank/Position
3. For Part-Time/Non-Tenure Track instructors- include how many credits have been taught at OU
4. School or Department
5. Request for funding
6. Amount of Request- not to exceed $750
7. Provide a rationale for how funding will be used and describe how this funding will enhance your teaching and learning or how it will add to your course design/delivery/assessment. 
8. Potential for matching or additional funds from other sources. 
9. Estimated date of use of funding and when the final report will be submitted.
10. Department Chair/Department Head signature

Final Report:

A one page report will be submitted within one semester of the use of the funds outlining how funding was used, total cost (including a copy of the receipts), and how this funding impacted your teaching and learning.

Proposal Submission:

To be submitted to the TLC Committee on a rolling basis during the academic year. Awards will be granted until the funding has run out. Approval will be provided within 45 days of the request.

Submission Procedure:

To Please submit the completed and signed proposal (email approvals accepted) as a PDF file via Request for Educational Development Funding form. 

Past grant recipients:

• Dikka Berven, "Strategies and Tactics for Institutionalizing Open Educational Resources" webinar
• Emily Spunaugle, "Teaching the History of the Book" course
• Sheryl Ruszkiewicz, the OU Facing Project and publishing Pontiac's stories
• T.J. Jourian, Faculty Success Program through the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
• Mary Craig, attendance and presentation at the 16th International Conference in Emerging Materials and Nanotechnology
• Caterina Pieri, purchasing books, software, and materials to develop new Italian courses

Oakland University Senate Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA)

Oakland University Senate recognizes Teaching excellence for (1) Online, (2) Tenure track, and (3) Non-tenure track faculty. Faculty winners are announced at the annual Founder's Day Luncheon where other OU awards are also given. Winners are inscribed onto a plaque, and a cash stipend is given.  More award details below.

Call for Nominations:

The Senate Teaching and Learning Committee is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the Teaching Excellence Awards.  The nominations for all TEA Awards is open year-round. Consideration for the 2024 year award will end on December 8, 2023. Nominations after this time are then considered for the 2025 award.

• Link to Self-Nomination Form
• Link to Nomination Form 

Nomination Information:

Nominations may be made by any member of the Oakland University community, including students, faculty, alumni, administrators, and staff. Student nominations are a highly valued component of this process. Faculty may not self-nominate for the Award. Faculty are encouraged to announce this nomination process in all classes. Students are encouraged to consider a faculty member who has facilitated their progress during their undergraduate course work or during graduate study.

Nomination details should address the nominee's accomplishments based on the following criteria:

• Excellence in teaching methodology
• Innovation in teaching
• Continued growth and development in teaching
• Distinction in the ability to stimulate critical thinking and facilitate student understanding
• Inspiring role model to students
• Exemplary service to students and teaching profession

Teaching Excellence Award Details:

• If you are nominated, the Teaching & Learning Committee will contact the you about how to submit the required materials for consideration.
• Previous winners may be nominated and will be eligible to win the award again if four years have passed since winning the award. For example, winners from 2015 and prior will be eligible to win the award again.
• Current members of the Teaching & Learning Committee may be nominated but will not be eligible to win the award.
• A plaque showing previous Teaching Excellence Award winners is on display in the lobby of the Kresge Library.
• The Committee will contact the nominees and chairs of their departments to request additional information.
• All TEA nominees are invited to an annual Faculty Recognition Luncheon hosted by the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee.
• Nominees for the Online Teaching Excellence award will also be invited to a recognition lunch hosted by e-Learning & Instructional Support.
• Due to the amount of support materials, preparation, and evaluation procedures, nominees for both a Teaching Excellence Award and an Online Excellence award must choose only one award for consideration.
• Each TEA award winners are announced at the annual Founders Day luncheon. Award winners are also presented with a money stipend. TEA winners receive:
  • $2000 for Tenure Track
  • $2000 for Non-Tenure Track Faculty
  • $2000 for Online Faculty

Past Recipients

The Teaching Excellence Award recognizes superior teaching, innovative instructional practice, high educational standards, the creation of productive learning environments, and the ability to inspire and motivate students. Nominations may be made by any member of the Oakland University Community. Nominations are reviewed by the Teaching and Learning Committee. 

A plaque showing previous Teaching Excellence Award winners is on display in the lobby of the Kresge Library.

* = Excellence in Teaching Award Winner (Non-Tenure Track)
**= Online Teaching Excellence Award Winner

Past Recipients (1982 - Present; Tenure-Track only listed from 1982-2009)

2030-2021

2023 - Taras Oleksyk
2023 - Holly Greiner-Hallman*
2023 - Helena Riha**
2022 - Sarah Lerchenfeldt
2022 - Dennis Burin*
2022 - Sandra Troxell-Smith**
2021 - Chiaoning Su
2021 - Shaun Moore*
2021 - Charlene Hayden**

2020-2011
2020 - Mark Isken
2020 - Margaret Ann Murphy *
2020 - Phyllis White **
2019 - Krzysztof (Chris) Kobus 
2019 - Caterina Pieri *
2019 - Amy Rutledge **
2018 - Jennifer Matthews
2018 - Victoria Shively *
2017 - John Krauss
2017 - Michele Plattenberger *
2016 - Anthony Tuf Francis
2016 - Helena Riha *
2015 - Tanya Christ
2015 - Peter Markus *
2014 - Dana Driscoll
2014 - Vanessa Stauffer *
2013 - Barbara Oakley
2013 - Mark Doman *
2012 - Jeffrey Insko
2012 - Doris Plantus *
2011 - Mary Bee
2011 - Jenifer Wenson *

2010-2001
2010 - Doris Plantus *
2009 - Barbara Penprase
2008 - Susan Hawkins
2007 - Peter Bertocci
2006 - Dagmar Cronn
2005 - Carlo Coppola
2004 - Djamel Bouchaffra
2003 - Mary T. Stein
2002 - Jude V. Nixon
2001 - Todd Estes

2000-1991
2000 - Peter J. Binkert
1999 - Darrel P. Schmidt
1998 - Natalie Bell Cole
1997 - Dyanne M. Tracy
1997 - Toni S. Walters
1996 - Andrew Rusek
1995 - Brian F. Murphy
1994 - Jaqueline I. Lougheed
1994 - Ronald L. Crame
1993 - Brian A. Connery
1992 - Jerrold W. Grossman
1991 - Anne H. Tripp
1991 - Bruce J. Mann
1991 - David Lau
1991 - Richard F. Barron

1990-1982
1990 - Ka Chai Cheok
1990 - W. Dorsey Hammond
1990 - Keith E. Stanovich
1990 - Jane M. Bingham
1989 - Carl Osthaus
1988 - Virginia Rader Blankenship
1987 - Robert Eberwein
1986 - Robert I. Facko
1986 - Richard B. Stamps
1985 - Delores M. Burdick
1985 - Gilbert Wedekind
1984 - Nigel Hampton
1983 - David Downing
1982 - Sheldon Appleton

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2024 teaching awards has been extended, and the nomination window will now remain open until 11:59 PM on Friday, December 8, 2023. Any nominations received after this new deadline will be considered for the 2025 award.

The following form should be used by Teaching Excellence Award nominees to submit an application for consideration for the tenure-track, non-tenure track, or online teaching award.

Before starting this application, we suggest that you have all materials prepared and statements written in a word-processing document to be pasted in the application. The application cannot be saved and submitted later. It can be edited after you submit, however, as long as the deadline has not passed. Before you start, have:

1. Written answers of 500 words or less to the three prompts
2. Two pieces of student/faculty support as described in the "Teaching Excellence Award Application Instructions" included with your nomination notification email
3. Two supporting documents (optional) as described in the "Teaching Excellence Award Application Instructions" included with your nomination notification email

Instructions:
1. Type your first and last name
2. Type in the name of your department or program. Do not use acronyms
3. Indicate the award for which you'd like to be considered
4. Respond to the personal statement prompt
5. Upload a portfolio of student and faculty support (required)
5. Upload up to two supporting documents (optional)

If you have questions about this process, please email senatetlc@oakland.edu.

• Link to the Self-Nomination Form
• Link to the Nomination Form