E. Phillips Knox Distinguished Teaching Award

Faculty candidates for the Knox Award are nominated by their peers.

Deadlines

• Faculty must be nominated by October 15.
• Faculty who are nominated and eligible will be invited to submit an application packet by January 14.

Selection of finalists will be made by February 15. The Knox Distinguished Teaching Award will be awarded at the Spring University Awards Ceremony.

Nomination and Selection Process

The process to nominate a faculty member for the Knox Award can be completed by sending an email to cte@miamioh.edu. The nominee's name, rank, and department should be included in the email.

First Round Selection Process

Eligibility Criteria

“The recipient must have a minimum of two years of teaching service at Miami University, be in good standing within the department; and be recognized by students for disseminating knowledge, improving the learning experience while encouraging students to think critically, understand context and be engaged with the learning experience through creative and innovative teaching methods” (Knox Memorandum of Understanding).

Application Packet Requirements

Application packets are due January 14 to cte@MiamiOH.edu. The application packet must include 3 components:

1. At least two letters (no more than 5 letters). One letter should be from your nominator and discuss how your teaching meet the criteria (see below). The second letter should also address the criteria. At least one of the letters should be from a faculty or staff member at Miami.
2. A teaching narrative or statement of 2000 words or less. Please reflect on your teaching and discuss how you met the criteria and definition of teaching excellence. Be sure to bold each criterion as it is addressed in the narrative. Please also reference materials provided in your supporting materials and documented evidence.
3. Supporting materials and documented evidence supporting the aforementioned aspects of excellence in teaching. Evidence might include, but is not limited to:
   • Letters from students.
   • Examples of assignments/student work with professor reflection on the work.
   • Evidence of teaching innovation over time.
   • Video (limited to 15 minutes) of teaching or student work.
   • Course evaluations [summative (end-of-course), formative (midcourse), peer review].
   • Rationale for the selection of course materials.
   • Examples of teaching artifacts (e.g., electronic teaching portfolio, links to game or website of teaching materials, syllabi, assessments).

Supporting materials and documented evidence cannot exceed 15 pages (12 point font; Times New Roman; 1 inch margins; single or double spaced).

When non-written materials (e.g., videos) or links to additional materials are included, be mindful that the review time of the supporting materials and documented evidence should be commensurate with the review of 15 written pages.

Selection Criteria

The Knox winner possesses qualities of a creative and innovative educator with a demonstrated record of fostering critical thinking and engagement of undergraduates along these three dimensions:

• Learning through inquiry, experimentation, and discovery.
• Heightened awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity and the importance of global contexts.
• Active participation in experiential learning and community partnerships

With these qualities and dimensions in mind, the review committee will evaluate the applications based on the features of teaching excellence listed below:

• Positive student-faculty contact
• Effective active learning
• Achievable and high expectations
• Respect for diverse talents and ways of learning
• Effective communication skills
• Commitment to teaching well
• Documented evidence of student learning outcome.

Please note: Past winners of the E. Phillips Knox Distinguished Teaching Award or the Distinguished Teaching Award are not eligible until 10 years after their award dates.

Second Round Selection Process

Around February 1 the committee will meet to discuss the applications.

Finalists who are selected will be invited for an interview (30 minutes or fewer) with the selection committee.

Standardized interview questions will provide the selection committee an opportunity to explore the finalists' teaching achievements further.