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Awards & OpportunitiesTeaching & Mentoring

In This Section

 Please note that some dates are subject to change. Change announcements will be distributed in a timely manner.

September 2026

The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award
  • CAS Deadline: September 14, 2026
  • Point of Contact: Randy McBee
  • Description:
    • The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award is designed to recognize members of the Texas Tech University faculty for teaching excellence, as evidenced by their attainment of distinction both within and beyond the institution for outstanding teaching and outstanding contributions related to excellence in teaching. This award will be presented to up to four recipients per academic year. The awards will be accompanied by a cash prize of $5,000 each. 
  • Nominate:
    • See OP 32.13
    • See Application Checklist and Scoring Rubric in Attachments to OP 32.13. 
  • More Information:

October 2026

Piper Professor Nomination
  • Teaching Academy Deadline: October 9, 2026 
  • Point of Contact:Randy McBee
  • Description:
    • The state offers ten awards of $5,000 annually to professors for superior teaching at the college level. Selection is made on the basis of nominations submitted by each college or university in the State of Texas. The focus of the Piper Professor Award is to recognize teaching, rather than scholarship, research, publication, or administration. The roster of Piper Professors includes outstanding professors from two and four-year colleges and universities, public and private.
    • Each state institution of higher education may submit one (1) nomination. Therefore, a committee comprised of members of the Texas Tech Teaching Academy will review all nominees and recommend one nomination to represent Texas Tech University. Awards will be announced state-wide in May 2027. 
  • Eligibility:
    • Full-time tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure-track teaching faculty (i.e., Professors of Practice and Lecturers) are eligible. 
  • Apply:
    • Nomination forms: Please download and fill out the two nomination forms provided by the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
      • Part A: This form should be completed by the nominating college, except the last field asking for full-time equivalent student enrollment and the administrator signature block. Those will be filled out by the Provost’s Office. 
      • Part B: This form should be completed by the nominee or representative. 
    • Letters of Support: Nominees will also be asked to enter up to five (5) email addresses of reference letter writers. These letters may be from members of the nominee’s administration, colleagues, and/or current and former students. At least one letter must be from a student. Letters of nomination should be solicited before the application deadline and are to be submitted with the application materials. When filling out the online application, once it is saved as a draft, there is an option to “Send Reference Letter Request” to the letter writers. This will ensure that letters are submitted by the deadline. 
  • More Information: Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award | Teaching Academy | TLPDC Home | Texas Tech 
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Arts & Science Excellence in Teaching
  • CAS Deadline: October 15, 2026
  • Point of Contact: Randy McBee
  • Description
    • Awarded Annually at the spring Arts & Sciences Lubbock Alumni Reception
  • Eligibility:
    • Tenured and tenure-track faculty and full-time teaching faculty
    • May be awarded every five years to the same individual
  • Apply:
    • Nomination cover sheet is available from department chairs.
Hemphill-Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award
  • CAS Deadline: October 15, 2026
  • Point of Contact: Randy McBee
  • Description:
    • The Hemphill-Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes a professor who has been at Texas Tech no more than four years and whose excellence in teaching is supported by students, faculty and administrators.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominated by faculty to CAS. Subsequent submission to the Provost’s Office with additional screening by the Honors and Awards Council with recommendations to the Texas Tech Parents Association.
    • Faculty Awards Nomination form (Attachment A in O.P. 32.24) should be
Spencer A. Wells Award for Creativity in Teaching
  • CAS Deadline: October 15, 2026
  • Point of Contact: Randy McBee
  • Description:
    • Recognizes creativity in a professor's approach to excellent teaching as demonstrated by students, faculty members and administrators.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominations will be accepted annually as outlined in O.P. 32.24
    • Faculty Awards Nomination form (Attachment A in O.P. 32.24) should be followed for each nomination.

December 2026

President's Excellence in Teaching Awards
  • CAS Deadline: December 8, 2026
  • Point of Contact: Randy McBee
  • Description:
    • An award given to recognize excellence in the teaching role.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominations will be accepted annually as outlined in O.P. 32.24
    • Faculty Awards Nomination form (Attachment A in O.P. 32.24) should be followed for each nomination.

January 2027

President's Excellence in Faculty Peer Mentorship Award
  • Teaching Academy Deadline: January 29, 2027
  • Point of Contact: Suzanne Tapp
  • Description:
    • This award was created to recognize faculty for exemplary and sustained activity in faculty mentorship at Texas Tech University as evidenced by both official and unofficial mentorship roles, demonstrated success of mentorship beyond regular service, and an ongoing commitment to personal improvement as a mentor. Tenured or continuing appointment faculty members with three years of documented mentorship service recognized by peers may be considered and the award carries a monetary prize of $1,500.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominated by chair, area coordinator, or dean via InfoReady.
    • A university committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations to the Provost
  • More Information:
Departmental Excellence in Teaching Award
  • Teaching Academy Deadline: January 29, 2027
  • Point of Contact: Molly Jacobs (TLPDC)
  • Description:
    • Recognizes an academic unit that demonstrates a strong teaching culture, commitment to students and institutional support for teaching excellence.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominations open in November. Application Materials listed on the Teaching Academy’s website include a Narrative and two appendices.
    • A Teaching Academy selection committee reviews applications.
  • More Information:

February 2027

Nancy J. Bell Faculty Excellence in Mentoring
  • Graduate School Deadline: February 5, 2027
  • Description:
    • The Nancy J. Bell Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award is designed to recognize faculty members who have significantly contributed to the mentoring of graduate students.
  • Nominate:
    • Nominations are submitted directly to the Graduate School

March 2027

Teaching Academy : New Member Applications
  • Teaching Academy Deadline: March 12, 2027
  • Description:
    • The Teaching Academy is an organization comprised of faculty who are dedicated to teaching excellence. The organization meets twice a year and is led by the Executive Council. The Teaching Academy facilitates several awards, hosts annual events, and provides members with the opportunity to support peers and serve the university.
  • Criteria:
    • Members must have a full-time appointment (tenured or tenure-track, professor of practice, or lecturer) and have been at Texas Tech for a minimum of three years (completed six long semesters). Applicants must be nominated by a current Teaching Academy member and recommended by a second Teaching Academy member.
  • Nominate:
    • Materials include nomination/recommendation letters and a teaching philosophy statement, as well as evidence supporting: (a) student-centered teaching, (b) characteristics of an intentional teacher, (c) evidence-based teaching, (d) characteristics of engaged teaching, and (e) teaching excellence from students.
    • The Selection Committee will not consider applications that do not conform to requirements.
    • Recommender/nomination letters due to the Teaching Academy by March 26, 2027
  • More information:

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