#2.7 Million for Teaching Awards

OHIO STATE COMMITS $2.7 MILLION TO PROMOTE EXCELLENT TEACHING

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University today (1/17) announced 
a 10-year commitment of $2.75 million to recognize academic 
departments for teaching excellence.

     "Teaching excellence is at the heart of everything we do," 
said Richard Sisson, senior vice president and provost, in 
announcing the awards.

     "We are deeply committed to providing an outstanding 
academic experience for our students, and this departmental award 
program is yet another indication of how seriously we take this 
commitment."

     The University Departmental Teaching Excellence Award is co-
sponsored by The Ohio State University Alumni Association. As 
part of the award program, the university will select two 
departments each year which have demonstrated excellence in 
teaching. The university will give each department $25,000 in 
annual, permanent funding in recognition of its instructional 
excellence. In addition, the Alumni Association will give each 
winning department a one-time $1,500 award.

     "We want to recognize, nurture, and reward exemplars of 
teaching excellence not only for individual faculty but also for 
academic departments because collective faculty excellence 
ultimately determines the quality of a student's education," 
Sisson said, noting that teaching excellence has been a number-
one priority for both himself and President E. Gordon Gee.

     "Dr. Gee has repeatedly stressed our responsibility and 
commitment to our students, and this award backs up that 
commitment with substantial financial resources," Sisson noted.

     Sisson made the announcement as departments were submitting 
nominations for the second year of the award program. Last year, 
the awards were presented to the Department of Dance and the 
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

     Robert L. Arnold, vice provost for undergraduate studies, 
noted that the selection process for the award program is 
extensive and consultative, with a committee of alumni, faculty, 
students, and administrators judging departmental nominations.

     "The nature of the process itself has sparked dialogue among 
faculty within and across departments to strive toward finding 
ways to share, to emulate and, where possible, to replicate best 
practices to enhance the learning environment," Arnold said.

     The winners of the current competition will be announced in 
the spring.

     Sisson has been asked to describe the awards program and 
other things Ohio State is doing to advance teaching excellence 
at the American Association of Higher Education Forum on Faculty 
Roles and Rewards, Jan. 16-19, in San Diego. 

                                #

Contacts: Richard Sisson, (614) 292-5881
          Robert L. Arnold, (614) 292-5881


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Fri, 17 Jan 1997 11:08:56 -0500 (EST)]
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