Center for Faculty Development

The Newell Innovative Teaching Award

Criteria

The Newell Innovative Teaching Award is designed to encourage faculty to try new ideas in the classroom. Faculty members are asked to submit proposals if their innovation meets the following criteria:

  1. It is innovative. This is defined as introducing something new and creative to your classroom. The proposal should demonstrate true innovation in the discipline. An innovative teaching technique in not merely new for the instructor but for the subject area as a whole.
  2. It is relatively comprehensive in scope. The innovation must have involved changes in the way a subject (not necessarily an entire course) is taught. For example, an activity that transpires in the course of one class does not have the same influence as a pedagogical strategy that evolves over several class sessions.
  3. Classroom innovations must have occurred in the academic year the proposal is submitted.

Selection Process

A three-member committee comprised of past winners select the first place winner ($500) and up to four honorable mentions ($250).

Rating Form

Submission Guidelines

The proposal should be divided into the following sections:

  1. Description of the project;
  2. How the project differs from current teaching ideas and methods in the field;
  3. Your opinion of the success of the project and how it can be improved.

The award will not be limited to those projects deemed entirely successful by the professor; on the contrary, the instructor may determine that the innovation proved ineffective but can be improved. An innovation will be considered meritorious if it meets the above criteria and is accompanied by a review of its relative strengths and weaknesses.

A cover page should be submitted with the proposal that includes the title of the proposal and the applicant's name. Please do not put your name on the proposal itself. The proposal should be no more than 3-5 pages, double spaced (this includes appendices). Proposals over 5 pages will not be considered. Please be brief and use bullets, boldface, headings and other tools to aid the reader in understanding the project. If the committee needs further information, they will contact the faculty member.

Remember, you are writing for a committee outside your academic discipline. Clarity and brevity are appreciated.

Submit your proposals to the Center for Faculty Development Office by Wednesday, April 7, 2010. Winners will be announced on Awards Day.

Note: See Suzanne Barham in the Academic Center to view examples of past proposals.

Past Winners

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

Associate Provost and
Dean of Instruction:
Barbara McMillin
e-mail: bmcmilli@uu.edu
phone: 731-661-5314 		Associate Director of
Faculty Development:
Nan Thomas
e-mail: nthomas@uu.edu
phone: 731-661-5065
office: F-18A 		Director of
Faculty Research:
Randy Phillips
e-mail: rphillips@uu.edu
phone: 731-661-5209
Union University
1050 Union University Drive
Box 1815
Jackson, TN 38305