Teaching Excellence Awards

The Faculty Senate Teaching Enhancement Committee (TEC) and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) invite nominations to recognize outstanding educators in the University. All UNM instructors, students, and staff are encouraged to nominate lecturers, instructors, and professors for special award recognition. This year, the TEC and CTL are introducing an updated structure for the UNM Teaching Excellence Awards that aligns with the UNM Framework for Teaching and Learning Success. This new format highlights UNM’s seven Teaching and Learning Principles and expands opportunities for educators across all campuses and contract types to be recognized for excellence in teaching.

Unlike past years, when awards were organized primarily by rank or appointment type, the new structure is principle-based, allowing educators to be recognized for specific aspects of their teaching practice. This approach encourages educators to reflect on their growth and helps build community by celebrating teaching excellence in its many forms and settings.

Our new structure: UNM Framework for Teaching and Learning Success

We encourage nominees and applicants from all UNM colleges, branches, and departments. The Center for Teaching and Learning offers guidance on the application process. You can also set up a consultation with the Teaching Support team to receive feedback and guidance on your materials.

 

Awards Descriptions and Eligibility

Presidential Teaching Fellow

All tenured faculty are eligible. The Presidential Teaching Fellowship promotes excellence in teaching by establishing a core group of faculty who are given the highest recognition for their effective teaching. Additionally, Fellows carry a special responsibility for ensuring teaching excellence by sharing their expertise with the university community. One Fellow is selected each year and serves an active term of two years. Fellows retain their title while employed at UNM. During the two years of their fellowship, recipients receive a $1000 increase to their base salary, paid by the Provost’s office. Additionally, recipients are provided with $3000 for each of the two years from CTL to honor their fellowship projects, including projects in collaboration with CTL. Payment will be made at the close of the two-year fellowship once the fellow has submitted an executive summary or can be arranged in communication with CTL.  The Teaching Support program processes this payment via non-standard payment form or JV transfer to recipient index – the distribution is decided upon by the Director of the Teaching Support program and the recipient’s agreement of what they will do as a Presidential Teaching Fellow. Nominations can be made by colleagues, students, or alumni.

To be eligible for the Presidential award you must meet the following criteria:

1. I am a tenured faculty member at The University of New Mexico
2. I have not previously received the Presidential Teaching Fellow award

Teaching Excellence Award for Active and Relevant Learning

This award honors educators who design engaging, participatory learning experiences that connect education to students’ lived experiences and allow students to reflect on their learning processes. Recipients demonstrate how they make learning active, relevant, and meaningful.

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Active and Relevant Learning category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Open Communication and Assessment  

This award recognizes educators who exemplify transparency, trust, and effective communication in teaching and learning. Recipients demonstrate how they establish clear expectations, provide timely and constructive feedback, and foster a shared understanding between educators and students that promotes continuous growth and academic success.

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current  contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Open Communication and Assessment category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Culture of Growth  

This award honors educators who foster adaptability, resilience, and a culture of growth in their courses and programs. Recipients demonstrate how they create environments that value curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning that encourage students to approach challenges as opportunities and to persist through difficulty.  

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Culture of Growth category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Cultivating Community  

This award celebrates educators who intentionally build supportive, welcoming, and collaborative learning environments where all students feel valued and connected. Recipients demonstrate how they cultivate trust, respect, and a sense of belonging, thereby enhancing motivation, engagement, and teamwork among students and colleagues.  

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Cultivating Community category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Research-Centered and Experiential Learning  

This award recognizes educators who design learning experiences that integrate research, inquiry, community engagement, or real-world application. Recipients demonstrate how they connect academic learning to practice, encouraging students to think critically, act creatively, and apply knowledge in authentic contexts that prepare them for continued scholarship, civic participation, or professional growth.  

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Research-Centered and Experiential Learning category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Supporting the Potential of All Learners

This award honors educators who create learning experiences that recognize and support the strengths, backgrounds, and learning needs of all students. Recipients demonstrate how they design courses and interactions that foster successful outcomes, dignity and respect for all learners, reflecting UNM’s mission to serve both local and global communities.

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Supporting the Potential of All Learners category.

Teaching Excellence Award for Reflection and Continuous Improvement  

This award recognizes educators who demonstrate intentional, ongoing reflection on their teaching and its impact on student learning. Recipients use feedback, assessment, and peer collaboration to continuously refine their pedagogy, integrate innovation, and enhance student outcomes. This award celebrates reflective practice as the foundation of sustained excellence in teaching and learning at UNM.  

1. I am one of the following at The University of New Mexico: lecturer, clinician educator, adjunct faculty on a current contract, or tenure-track or tenured faculty.
2. I have not previously won the Teaching Excellence Award for the Reflection and Continuous Improvement category.

Susan Deese-Roberts Outstanding Teaching Assistants

This award recognizes and rewards teaching achievements of graduate students. Multiple recipients may be selected for this monetary award. Nominations are to be made by department chairs on the basis of one nomination for every ten departmental teaching assistants. Please suggest names of deserving teaching assistants to their department chairperson. $1000.00 award to be paid by scholarship processed by CTL. To be eligible for the Teaching Assistant award you must meet the following criteria:

1. I am a graduate student and currently enrolled at The University of New Mexico
2. I have not previously received the Susan Deese-Roberts Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award