This annual award is given by the SLCC Foundation Board to recognize outstanding performance in teaching at Salt Lake Community College by both full-time and adjunct faculty.

The SLCC Foundation provides a substantial dollar award along with valuable and heart-felt SLCC-wide recognition of teaching excellence at SLCC.   The Teaching Excellence Award reflects a cumulative body of teaching excellence including a sound understanding of teaching practice and successful work with students. Awards are given to full-time and adjunct faculty.  All members of the SLCC College community - students, faculty members, staff, and administrators - are invited to nominate a faculty member.  This award is managed by the Faculty Teaching & Learning Center and the Office of the Provost For more information and questions, please contact Alia Criddle, Interim Director of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center at alia.criddle@slcc.edu

• The award should reflect a cumulative body of teaching excellence rather than just a single year of fine work.
• Teaching excellence encompasses professionalism both within the classroom and in service to the department, division, College, and community.
• Applications should include support from those most knowledgeable about a faculty member's professional effectiveness – students, faculty colleagues, and academic administrators.
• Applications should reflect the support of the faculty member's department colleagues and academic administrators.
• The review process should reflect the considered involvement and judgment of faculty colleagues and academic administrators.

Eligibility

• Full-time faculty must have completed at least three academic years and adjunct faculty must have completed at least six semesters of teaching experience at SLCC by the end of the Fall semester in which they are nominated.
• Previous award winners are not eligible.

Process

The Teaching Excellence Award process is divided into two phases:

1. First, the nomination process where students, fellow faculty, and staff are encouraged to nominate excellent faculty
2. Second, the nominee completes the application process. Details will be provided to the nominee by December 13, 2024. Applications will be due by February 3, 2025.

If you would like to nominate an amazing, excellent teacher, use the nomination form below. (Self-nominations are welcome)

Nomination Form

Applications should be submitted by the announced deadline and adhere to the following process:

1. The Faculty Senate and Faculty Association announces to the College community in the Fall semester of the academic year that nominations are open and written guidelines are available.
2. All members of the College community are eligible to nominate a faculty member; faculty can also nominate themselves.
3. Nominees submit an application through the office of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Center.
4. The application will include 3 or 4 parts:

   • Part 1: Application
     In 2 - 3 pages, respond to the following prompts:

     1. Describe your teaching philosophy. How do you approach teaching and learning? What core principles guide your interactions with students? Explain how your teaching philosophy has evolved over time.

     2. Detail the teaching methods and strategies you use in the classroom. How do these methods enhance student engagement and learning?

     3. Provide examples of how you adapt your teaching practices to meet the needs of the most diverse student body in the state of Utah. How do you ensure inclusivity for all students in your classroom?

     4. Share examples of professional activities and scholarship pertinent to your application for the SLCC Teaching Excellence Award.

     In addition to the above, full-time faculty applicants should respond to the following prompts:

     5. Describe any curriculum development or innovative teaching practices you have implemented. How have these contributions improved the educational experience for students?

     6. Share any other examples of outstanding service to the department, division, College and community pertinent to your application for the SLCC Teaching Excellence Award.
     Submit your 2-3 page application as a single pdf file.

   
   
   • Part 2: Student Comments and Support
     • Submit 1-2 pages of student comments and support as a single pdf file.
       
       Submit evidence of student evaluation scores that reflect student confidence in the faculty member as a teacher. You may also include student comments from course evaluations or other communication with students or letter(s) of support from students.
   
   
   • Part 3: Letters of Recommendation
     • Submit 2-3 letters of recommendation from faculty colleagues, administrators, and/or staff, combined into a single pdf file. One letter must be from an academic administrator and must speak to the applicant’s effective collaboration and relationships with colleagues.
   
   
   • Part 4 (Optional): Video or audio file
     • Nominees may submit a 3–5-minute video or audio file (mp4) in support of their application.
5. A review committee comprised of five faculty representatives and two academic administrators from across the disciplines will screen all applications to ensure that they meet minimums and to document all nominations received. Applications are also reviewed by HR to make sure the faculty member is in good standing. The review committee will define a process for evaluating the applications and will forward the appropriate list of qualifying faculty to the SLCC Foundation for review and final selection.

Teaching Excellence Award Timeline

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2021, this award has been given to one first year full-time faculty member for their overall exceptional work in professional development and activities, community and college service, and pedagogy and professing practices in their first year at Salt Lake Community College.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on both the nomination letter(s) and faculty ePortfolio. Each should describe and demonstrate how the nominee is outstanding in the areas of professional community and college service, faculty activities and development and professing practices. The evaluation criteria includes how the nominee relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• In addition to the nomination letter(s), nominees must submit a published ePortfolio describing and demonstrating outstanding work in professional development and activities, community and college service, and pedagogy and professing practices.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Sahar Al-Shoubaki, Department of Humanities & Languages
• 2023 - Dr. Diogo Cosme, World Languages
• 2022 - David Robles, Criminal Justice
• 2021 - Xin Zhao, Psychology

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2021, this award has been given to one first year part-time faculty member for their overall exceptional work in teaching in their first year at Salt Lake Community College.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing and demonstrating how the nominee is outstanding in their pedagogy and professing practices. The evaluation criteria include how the nominee relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Aaron Rask Coden, Department of Interior Design
• 2023 - Emily Thompson, Psychology
• 2022 - Adela Rahmati, Anthropology
• 2022 - Zachary J. Stickney, History
• 2021 - Jordan McCormack, English as a Second Language

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2021, this classically nonacademic award, is inclusive to all faculty no matter their mental, physical, or economic abilities.
• This award recognizes outstanding faculty for their current activities of keeping outstanding physical or mental health through activities such, but not limited to, swimming, therapy, counseling, running, rolling, biking, dancing, diet, meditation, yoga or hiking in the previous academic year.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they won this award.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing and demonstrating how the nominee has proven exceptional time and energy toward their individual health. The evaluation criteria include how the nominee relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Andrew Vogt, Engineering and Engineering Technology Department
• 2023 - Dr. Nancy Barrickman, Biology
• 2022 - Nancy Barrickman, Biology
• 2022 - Anson Xuan, Mathematics
• 2021 - Deidre Tyler, Sociology
• 2021 - Marissa Shaver, History
• 2021 - Autumn Brittney Krogh, Advisor

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2021, this classically nonacademic award, is inclusive to all faculty no matter their mental, physical, or economic abilities.
• This award recognizes outstanding faculty for caring for themselves, while navigating a physical, mental, and/or biological illness or disease in the previous academic year.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they won this award.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing and demonstrating how the nominee has proven exceptional time and energy toward caring for their wellbeing in fighting or overcoming a serious illness or disease. The evaluation criteria includes how the nominee relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - David Robles, Department of Criminal Justice
• 2022 - Antonette Gray, Criminal Justice
• 2021 - Deidre Tyler, Sociology
• 2021 - Marissa Shaver, History
• 2021 - Autumn Brittney Krogh, Advisor

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2021, this award has been given to one part-time or full-time faculty member for going beyond being inclusive and equitable, by working to end oppression in society and/or the campus by addressing harm and reparation for a marginalized group as an activist in the previous academic year.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they won this award.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing and demonstrating how the nominee has proven outstanding actions on the campus and in their community as a social justice scholar-activist. The evaluation criteria include how the nominee relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Elisa Stone, Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies
• 2023 - Jerri A. Harwell, English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies
• 2022 - Cindy Fierros, Psychology
• 2021 - James Singer, Sociology

This annual award open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2022, this award is given to one part-time or full-time faculty member for excelling in online teaching.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone for this award, including oneself.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they have won this award.
• Faculty must have completed the Online Teaching Credential for teaching online to be eligible for this award.
• Faculty for this award should demonstrate and maintain a regular active presence in online courses, such as, but not limited to positive encouragement and announcements to students throughout the course.
• Faculty nominations should demonstrate important and regular engagement in online courses through innovative discussion posts, student-to-student interaction, and thorough and timely feedback on assignments.
• Faculty nominations should include specific samples of student engagement and innovative use of existing technology that gives students variety in their assignments.
• Faculty nominations should showcase how their pedagogical approach and curriculum design of an online course supports justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing and demonstrating how the nominee has proven outstanding teaching in an online environment—paying careful attention to the details above. The evaluation criteria include how the nominee’s pedagogy reflects SLCC’s vision, values, and mission.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Julia Ellis, Department of Criminal Justice
• 2023 - Jessica Curran, Visual Arts & Design

This annual award is open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee.

• Beginning in 2022, this award is given to one part-time or full-time faculty’s outstanding peer-reviewed published open educational resource book, paperback book, hardback book, ebook, and anti-copyright book that was published in the previous three academic years.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone’s publication for this award, including their own publications.
• The nomination must include full title, publisher, date published, and link to the publication.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they won this award.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing the following:
  1. how the nominated publication relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission, and
  2. the importance of how the work will/is impact(ing)/influence(ing) society,
  3. the public interest of the publication,
  4. the accessibility for the public to access the publication,
  5. the quality of the content within the publication,
  6. the rigor of the peer-review process,
  7. the ranking of the publisher,
  8. the type of book in this rank order:
     • Tier One
       1. First author
       2. First editor
       3. (unless alphabetical order)
     • Tier Two
       1. authored
       2. co-authored
       3. editor
       4. co-editor
     • Tier Three
       1. Book international publisher
       2. Book national publisher
       3. Book institutional publisher
       4. Book self-published
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Darin Jensen, Department of English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies Jensen, Darin & Griffiths, Brett (2023). Two-year college writing studies: Rationale and praxis for just teaching. Utah State University Press.
• 2023 - David Hubert, Political Science - Hubert, David (2023). Attenuated democracy: A critical introduction to U.S. government and politics. Open Educational Resources.

This annual award is open for nominations November 1 to December 31 each year and announced the following Spring semester, is managed by the Faculty Development, Advancement, and Research Senate Subcommittee

• Beginning in 2021, this award is given to one part-time or full-time faculty’s outstanding peer-reviewed published article in an open educational resource, handbook, journal, online journal, blog, magazine, ebook, hardback book, paperback book, encyclopedia, anti-copyright publication, or other scholarly periodical, that was published in the previous three academic years.
• Salt Lake Community College employees and students may nominate someone’s publication for this award, including their own publications.
• The nomination must include full title, publisher, date published, and link to the article.
• Someone cannot be nominated for this award in the five-year period after they won this award.
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.
• The evaluation criteria for this award are based on the nomination letter(s) describing the following:
  1. how the nominated article relates strongly to SLCC’s vision, values, and mission, and
  2. the importance of how the work will/is impact(ing)/influence(ing) society,
  3. the public interest of the article,
  4. the accessibility for the public to access the article,
  5. the quality of the content within the article,
  6. the rigor of the peer-review process,
  7. the ranking of the publisher of the article,
  8. the type of article in this rank order:
     • Tier One
       1. First author
       2. (unless alphabetical order)
     • Tier Two
       1. authored
       2. co-authored
     • Tier Three
       1. Article in international journal/book
       2. Article in national journal/book
       3. Article in institutional journal/book
       4. Article in international encyclopedia
       5. Article in magazine
       6. Article in self-published journal/book
     • Tier Four
       1. Top ranked journal
       2. Top ranked book
• There is no monetary reward for this award.
• After the FDAR committee determines the winner for this award, the winner will be notified in the spring via a formal letter and be furnished with a certificate. In addition, an announcement will be provided in SLCC Today and made at the Faculty Convention. The winner will be listed on the SLCC Faculty Awards and Grants webpage.

Nomination Form

Past Award Recipients

• 2024 - Anthony J. Nocella II, Department of Criminal Justice
  Nocella II, Anthony J. (2024). Chapter One: Dismantling neoliberalism in higher education: Building community education not community corporate factories. In A. J. Nocella II, Resisting Neoliberal Schooling: Dismantling the Rubricization and Corporatization of Higher Education. Peter Lang Publishing.
• 2023 - Dr. Bernice Olivas, English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies - Olivas, Bernice (2022). Developing academic identity while inventing the university. S. Waite & P. W. Moe (Eds.), Inventing the Discipline. Parlor Press.
• 2022 - Emmanuel Santa-Martinez - Santa-Martinez, Emmanuel, Cardoso Castro, Cibele, Flick, Andrew, Sullivan, Michael, Riday, Heathcliffe, Clayton, Murray K. & Brunet, Johanne (2021). Bee species visiting Medicago sativa differ in pollen deposition curves with consequences for gene flow. American Journal of Botany. 108(6):1016-1028.
• 2021 - Pook Carson - Carson, Pook. (2018). How calculative are managers when evaluating signals?: An empirical examination of signaling theory in trust formation. Journal of Business & Economic Policy. Vol. 5, No. 4.