This application is now open! Completed applications are due on Friday, October 3, 2025.

Online Application

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.

This award application aligns with the newly adopted Texas Tech definition of teaching excellence. Note that the pillars of teaching excellence identified in this definition often complement each other, and areas of overlap do exist. The committee will review applications based on outstanding teaching within the institution, outstanding teaching and contributions beyond the institution, and contributions to teaching excellence within the institution and will look for indicators that align with the pillars of excellence (student-centered, intentional, evidence-based, and engaging).

Application Materials

• Online Form
• Dean’s cover letter, highlighting nominee’s professional achievements related to teaching (limited to 2 pages). 
• Abbreviated curriculum vitae, emphasizing teaching contributions (limited to 5 pages). 
• Internal supporting letters from colleagues, focusing on the criteria for this award (limited to 3 pages).  
• External supporting letters from colleagues, focusing on the criteria for this award (limited to 3 pages). 
• Supporting letters from current and/or former students, focusing on the criteria for this award (limited to 3 pages). 
• Summarized Student Course Feedback Data (limited to 1 page). Please include:
  • Courses taught in the last 3 years 
  • The averages for the two “overall” questions on the student course feedback form. *Question 3 (Overall, the instructor’s teaching methods helped me learn the course content) and Question 6 (Overall, this course helped me learn required concepts or skills) on the new feedback form align with Questions 2 and 3 on the previous evaluation form.
  • Response rates
  • Enrollment numbers 
    *This information can be exported from SmartEvals 
• Optional Support Materials (limited to 3 pages). 
  Include additional evidence that supports this application. This should be organized clearly and concisely and should include such information that demonstrates precisely why the nominee is outstanding. Examples could include a course syllabus, teaching philosophy, quotes from student course feedback, context for student course feedback scores, etc. Additional letters of support may not be included. 

Packets that do not meet the requirements will not be considered.

Award OP

The nomination procedure, eligibility, and more detailed critera can be found in OP 32.13. Questions pertaining to the award eligibility and criteria for selection should be directed to the chair of the Executive Council of the Teaching Academy.

Past Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award Recipients