Teaching Awards
Tina and David Bellet Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Awards
Established in 1998 with a gift from the Bellet family, this annual award recognizes outstanding and innovative teaching in undergraduate studies in the School of Arts and Sciences. Each fall, students and faculty are encouraged to submit nominations to the associate dean for undergraduate studies. To be considered eligible, nominees must receive a minimum of three nominations submitted on their behalf. A committee reviews nominations and requests dossiers from eligible candidates. Honorees are announced in the spring, and award recipients each receive a one-time cash prize of $5,000.
Bellet Dossier Evaluation Criteria
The following are the teaching excellence evaluation criteria for the candidates’ dossiers.
- How the candidate communicates subject matter to undergraduate students of varied backgrounds and skill levels
- How the candidate encourages high standards of attainment for all undergraduate students
- How the candidate advises and mentors students, as well as expands undergraduate students’ intellectual development beyond the classroom
- How the candidate has influenced undergraduate students, colleagues, or departmental instruction
- How the candidate has integrated scholarship with teaching
Teaching excellence implies:
- Overall excellence in teaching.
- Sustained commitment to teaching.
- Effectiveness in helping students achieve meaningful goals.
Nomination Information
Nominations are accepted October 1-31. For more information or to nominate a candidate, please contact Carol Lynch in the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
Recent Awardees
Melanie Dreyer-Lude (2008)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Jeff Oaks (2008)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Carl Bodenschatz, Statistics (2007)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Bryan Hanks, Anthropology (2007)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Anthony Bledsoe, Biological Sciences (2006)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Daniel Mossé, Computer Science (2006)
Interview video: QuickTime | Windows Media Player
Profile
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award
The Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award annually recognizes teaching excellence by members of the University of Pittsburgh's faculty. Up to five awardees may be chosen annually. Each award consists of a cash prize to the faculty member of $2,000 and a grant of $3,000 to support the faculty member's teaching activities. All awardees are honored publicly.
Teaching is defined broadly and includes all activities that faculty members engage in to facilitate learning by undergraduate, professional, or graduate students: lecturing; clinical teaching; conducting seminars, tutorials, or recitations; etc.
Any faculty member who has served full-time at the University of Pittsburgh for at least five years is eligible, provided that he or she has been active as a teacher. Previous winners are not eligible. Refer to the nomination guidelines posted by the Provost for complete details.
Recent Arts and Sciences Awardees
- Jeffrey Brodsky, Biological Sciences (2008)
- William Klein, Psychology (2008)
- Kathleen Blee, Sociology (2007)
- Jeremy Levy, Physics and Astronomy (2007)
- Philip Smith, English (2007)
Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring
Part of the University's mission is training the next generation of professional scholars. Essential to this task are faculty who provide intellectual and personal leadership that helps to support, encourage, and promote the personal and professional development of students. The Provost's Award for Excellence in Mentoring recognizes as many as four University of Pittsburgh faculty members each year who demonstrate outstanding mentoring of graduate students seeking a research doctorate degree. Winners receive a cash prize of $2,500 and are honored publicly. Refer to the nomination guidelines posted by the Provost (PDF) for complete details.
Recent Arts and Sciences Awardees
- Leon Gleser, Statistics (2008)
- Kenneth Jordan, Chemistry (2008)
- Kathleen Blee, Sociology (2007)
- Robert Drennan, Anthropology (2007)
- Celia Brownell, Psychology (2006)
- Katheryn Linduff, History of Art & Architecture (2006)
- Alan Sved, Neuroscience (2006)
Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising
The School of Arts and Sciences annually recognizes outstanding faculty academic advising of its undergraduate students with the Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising, a one-time $4,000 (taxable) cash award.
Any Arts and Sciences faculty member with a regular, full-time appointment who has served as a departmental advisor for at least three years on the Oakland campus is eligible. Faculty members who receive a nomination from their department chair and two or more undergraduate students whom they have advised will be considered.
A letter from the chair of the department is required; it should explain the advising model used in the faculty member's department, include a perspective on his or her advising appointment and case load, and describe how the faculty member has demonstrated excellence in academic advising. Letters from at least two current or former undergraduate advisees are also required. These letters should describe when and how the faculty member's advice has impacted the advisee's academic and career goals.
Nomination Information
Nominations are accepted from October 1 through October 31, and should be sent to Juan Manfredi, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, 140 Thackeray Hall.
The prize winner will be selected by the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Council and announced in early 2008. For more information, contact Elizabeth Taylor at taylor@as.pitt.edu.
Recent Awardees
- George Bandik, Chemistry (2008)
- Daniel Romesberg, Sociology (2007)