Core Curriculum Teaching
Questions? Email facultyawards@utsa.edu.
TWO AWARDS:
- One award for tenured/tenure-track faculty
- One award for fixed-term-track faculty
Purpose of Award
This award is to recognize distinguished performance in teaching one or a set of core curriculum courses during the academic year of the award; innovation and involvement in core development projects; thoughtful engagement with the aims of the core curriculum; and excellence in teaching as demonstrated by standard measures of performance. This award will be of similar recognition, quality, character, and process to the other university-level faculty awards which are of high distinction and peer-reviewed at UTSA, signaling the key role of instructional quality and content in shaping what all UTSA graduates should know for their future roles in society.
Nominees must demonstrate excellence in core curriculum teaching in the following areas:
- innovation and rigor in the classroom
- a strong commitment to the aims and objectives of the core curriculum through innovative course development, assignments, and assessment
- positive student response to and engagement with his/her instruction
Eligibility
Faculty nominated must have taught at least four consecutive long semesters (Fall-Spring) at UTSA. The awards are based on performance for the calendar year of the award. Priority will be given to candidates who have not previously won the award. Previous recipients of the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching will be eligible for nomination after seven years.
Criteria
The selection committee will consider the following criteria in selecting winners:
- Degree to which the instructor has addressed the aims and state-required objectives of the Core Curriculum
- Degree to which the instructor has demonstrated innovation and rigor in the course(s)
- Evidence that students responded in positive ways to the nominee’s instruction
- Degree to which nominee has demonstrated commitment to core curriculum
Nomination Materials
A selection committee composed of faculty will review nomination packets. The nomination packet for this award will consist of only the following, assembled into a single PDF file in the order indicated:
- Complete award nomination form
- Nomination letter from peer faculty colleague, department chair, or college leader
- Self-statement about teaching philosophy and commitment to core curriculum (2-page max)
- Course evaluations (2 courses max)
- Nomination letters from students (2 max)
- Recent course syllabi (2 courses max)
- CV of nominee
Optional:
- Peer observations of teaching (2 max)
No additional materials should be submitted. Note that the award committee will place heavy emphasis on the self-statement and the faculty member's commitment to the Core Curriculum.
Each dean’s office should upload completed nomination packets by the deadline.
Each college may submit a maximum number of three nominees (1 Tenured, 1 Tenure-Track, 1 Fixed-Term Track).
SEE TABLE BELOW
| College | Maximum Number of Nominees |
|---|---|
| CEID | 3 |
| ACOB | 3 |
| COEHD | 3 |
| COLFA | 3 |
| COS | 3 |
| HCaP | 3 |
| University College | 3 |
| Honors College | 3 |
Past Recipients
2023
Patrick Gallagher, Liberal and Fine Arts
Gina Amatangelo, HCAP
2022
Dr. Rebecca Schroeder, University College
2021
Mariah Hopkins, Sciences
Michael Cepek, Liberal and Fine Arts
2020
David Matiella, Architecture, Construction & Planning
Luca Pozzi, Liberal and Fine Arts
2019
Todd Wright, University College
2018
Thad Bartlett, Liberal and Fine Arts
Terri Matiella, Sciences
2017
Sonia Alconini, Liberal and Fine Arts
Dixie Shaw-Tillmon, University College
2016
Gregory Hazleton, University College
2015
Sue Hum, Liberal and Fine Arts
Jodi Peterson, Liberal and Fine Arts
2014
John Helton, University College
2013
Lydia Martinez-Rivera, Sciences
2012
Joel Christensen, Liberal and Fine Arts
Kimberly Massaro, Business
2011
Kirsten Gardner, Liberal and Fine Arts
Lindsay G. Ratcliffe, Writing Core Program
2010
Ermine F. Orta, Management Science and Statistics
2009
Shelley E. Roff, Architecture
Deborah Wagner, Liberal and Fine Arts
2008
Eric Swanson, Sciences
Alycia Maurer, Education and Human Development
2007
Marian Aitches, Liberal and Fine Arts
2006
John M. Giggie, Liberal and Fine Arts
Timothy Strudell, Business
2005
Robert Collinge, Business
Richard Welch, Business
2004
Sharon Navarro, Liberal and Fine Arts
Joleen Beltrami, Business
2003
Mark A. Blizard, Architecture
Vincent A. Di Martino (Posthumous Award), Business
2002
Su Zhou, Business
Deanna White, Liberal and Fine Arts
2001
Amy Jasperson, Liberal and Fine Arts
2000
Ronald M. Ayers, Business
Patricia A. Brewer, Sciences and Engineering
1999
Linda Brandt Collins, Sciences and Engineering
John Rayko, Sciences and Engineering
1998
Robert Collinge, Business
Christine Caver, Fine Arts and Humanities
1997
David M. Senseman, Sciences and Engineering
Sabine F. Thomas, Sciences and Engineering
1996
Christopher Egan, Fine Arts and Humanities
1995
Judith B. Sobre, Fine Arts and Humanities
