Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant

The Award for Graduate Teaching Assistant recognizes excellence by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who are not instructors of record, but who provide teaching support and assistance under the direction of a lead teacher. This award focuses on the extent and quality of the assistance provided by the student to the lead instructor and the students in the class. Excellence in serving as a GTA may be demonstrated by evidences such as (but not limited to): lead teacher evaluations, student letters attesting to teaching excellence (limited to no more than five pages), a typical lab syllabus, a sample project/assignment for which the GTA was responsible for grading.

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled in a UCF master’s or doctoral program or graduated from a UCF master’s or doctoral program in 2017
  • Served as a GTA under the direction of a lead teacher at UCF (and not as the instructor of record) within the past year (i.e., spring 2017, summer 2017 or fall 2017)
  • Selected as the 2017-2018 winner of the college-level award

Students can only win the university award once.

Application Requirements

  • An electronic one-page nomination letter from the chair of the department or a faculty member that discusses the teaching of the nominee, with particular attention paid to the nominee’s contribution to the teaching of the department. This letter should address the strengths of the student, stressing how the nominee stands out within the departmental context.
  • An electronic copy of the student’s complete curriculum vita, highlighting the student’s teaching assignments and accomplishments.
  • A brief electronic (no more than one page) statement of the student’s teaching philosophy.
  • Electronic copies of syllabi for all courses for which the student served as a GTA.
  • Electronic copies of summaries of all teaching evaluations.
  • Applications must be submitted electronically to your Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in your academic college.