Students have an opportunity to recognize teachers who have influenced them for good.
Students can nominate teachers for a student choice award by picking up an application at the Associated Students of the University of Utah main office in Union Room 234. The forms are also available on the ASUU Web site.
After submitting basic information, students must turn in a 500-word essay with their nomination, explaining why that teacher deserves recognition.
A committee composed of members of the academic affairs board will review the essays and choose which teachers to award. The committee will look for how teachers influence students’ lives for the better and look out for the interest of students, according to Rick Henriksen, academic affairs board director.
Henriksen hopes to see 50 teachers nominated by the March 25 deadline, but no one has submitted an essay yet. The number of teachers nominated determines how many teachers will be recognized for the award. Last year the board recognized six teachers.
“I think it’s a great honor to be chosen by the students. They are the people who endure you day after day in the classroom and compare you to other teachers they endure in the classroom,” said History Professor Dean May, who was recognized last year. “It’s a very fine vote of confidence and encouragement.”
Although students can nominate any teacher, teaching assistants are not eligible for this award.
“Teaching assistants do a great job but they’re not in it for life,” Henriksen said. “There are other awards that are given to teaching assistants.”
The student choice awards began 10 years ago and are the highest award students can give to faculty members.
“The point is to celebrate teaching and good teachers at the university,” Henriksen said. “This is a huge award for the teachers, it means so much more than just being nominated by an outside source.”
The awards will be announced at a banquet at President Bernie Machen’s house on April 16. All teachers recognized this year and the students who nominated them will be invited to attend.
“It makes a huge difference in a teacher’s life, it will inspire them to be a better teacher,” Henriksen said, explaining why students should take the time to nominate a teacher.
U political science and gender studies student Gary Bennett plans on nominating his writing teacher.
“She’s taken time to find excellence in mediocre students?She really wants to make students the best they can be, and that’s why she should be recognized,” he said.