2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching: Guidelines
1.
PURPOSE
1.1
2.
To recognise and encourage excellence in teaching and to acknowledge the central place of
teaching and learning in the University.
STAFF ELIGIBILITY
2.1 The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching are open to all sessional
academic staff members, defined as:
“any higher education instructor not in tenured or permanent positions, this includes part-time
tutors or demonstrators, postgraduate students or research fellows involved in part-time
teaching, external people from industry or professions, clinical tutors, casually employed
lecturers or any other teachers employed on a “subject-by-subject” basis” (Percy et al., 2008a,
p. 5).
3.
NOMINATIONS
4.
3.1
The Division of Human Resources annually invites applications for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award
for Excellence in Sessional Teaching from Individuals and teams. Nominations may be
submitted by:
3.2
One academic peer of CSU (may include Dean), and one student (current or former within the
past three years). If the nomination is from a former student, the student must have been
taught by the academic within the past 3 years.
3.3
Nominations are to be based on outstanding achievement/performance over a period of two
or more years for staff who meet the eligibility conditions.
3.4
NOTE: Self-nominations will not be accepted for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching.
3.5
Once nominees have been informed of their nomination either by the Dean or by their
nominating academic peer and student, they must sign and complete the Vice-Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching Award nomination form found at the end of this
document.
SELECTION PROCESS
4.1
5.
The selection committee for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional
Teaching comprises the PVC Student Learning as its Presiding Officer and the
Curriculum, Learning and Teaching Committee. This Committee will make a
recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor from the nominations received.
AWARD
5.1
There are two awards for the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Sessional
Teaching.
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6.
ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
6.1
7.
EXPECTATIONS OF AWARD RECIPIENTS
7.1
8.
9.
Formal announcement of the recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching occurs at the combined Faculty/Division/Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
presentation ceremony in Wagga Wagga and Bathurst. The Division of Human
Resources places a record of the Award on the employee’s personal file.
Award recipients are normally expected to make their teaching philosophies and/or
practices more widely known throughout the University. For example, they may be
invited to participate in seminars or presentations or write a paper. They will also be
encouraged to apply for an Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) Citations for
Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
DEADLINES IN 2016
8.1
Completed nomination forms and written statements are sent by the nominees to Tania
Cowgill: tcowgill@csu.edu.au, Administrative Officer: Teaching Awards and Grants,
Division of Student Learning by 30 May 2016.
8.2
Curriculum Learning & Teaching Committee meet by Videoconference in June 2016.
NEED ASSISTANCE?
Assistance to develop a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching
application is available from:

Associate Professor Joy Wallace, Faculty of Arts;

Dr Rachel Richardson, Faculty of Education;

Julia Lynch, Faculty of Business;

Dr Janelle Wheat, Faculty of Science;

Professor Sandra Wills, PVC Division of Student Learning;

Your school-based Educational Designer;

Previous Faculty or University Award winners.
Advice on processes and timelines is available from:

Tania Cowgill, Administrative Officer: Teaching Awards and Grants, Division of Student
Learning.
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2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching Award Nomination Form
Please find attached two nomination forms at the end of the guidelines, one for a student and one
for an academic staff member. The two nomination forms are to be attached to the application
when received from nominators.

The 4 page limit will be strictly administered with all pages in excess of 4 removed
before being sent to the assessors.

Margins should be at least 2cm with clear paragraph definition using 11 point Arial or 11
point Calibri.
Written statement
The core element of a nomination for an Award is a written statement in which nominees describe
their teaching activities and achievements, and specifically address ONE of the four selection criteria.
Nominees are required to select ONE selection criterion, determined by the nature of their
contribution to student learning. Nominees must include clear and consistent forms of evidence that
are matched to the selection criterion being addressed. The following selection criteria apply:
1
Approaches to the support of learning and teaching that influence, motivate and inspire
students to learn. This may include fostering student development by stimulating
curiosity and independence in learning; contributing to the development of students’
critical thinking skills, analytical skills and scholarly values; encouraging student
engagement through the enthusiasm shown for learning and teaching; inspiring and
motivating students through high-level communication, presentation and interpersonal
skills; and enabling others to enhance their approaches to learning and teaching.
2
Development of curricula, resources and services that reflect a command of the field.
This may include developing and presenting coherent and imaginative resources for
student learning; implementing research-led approaches to learning and teaching;
demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of the field of study in the design of the
curriculum and the creation of resources for learning; communicating clear objectives
and expectations for student learning; providing support to those involved in the
development of curricula and resources; and contributing professional expertise to
enhance curriculum or resources.
3
Approaches to assessment, feedback and learning support that foster independent
learning. This may include integrating assessment strategies with the specific aims and
objectives for student learning; providing timely, worthwhile feedback to students on
their learning; using a variety of assessment and feedback strategies; implementing
both formative and summative assessment; adapting assessment methods to different
contexts and diverse student needs and learning styles; and contributing professional
expertise to enhance assessment and/or feedback.
4
Respect and support for the development of students as individuals. This may include
participating in the effective and empathetic guidance and advising of students;
assisting students from equity and other demographic subgroups to participate and
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achieve success in their courses; and influencing the overall academic, social and
cultural experience of higher education.
In assessing nominations against the nominated selection criteria, the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching
Excellence Award Selection Committee will take into account the extent to which it shows evidence,
including evaluation that the nominee’s contribution has:

influenced student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience;

gained recognition from fellow staff, the institution and/or the broader community; and

provided evidence of sustainability of no less than two years.
Curriculum vitae
The curriculum vitae should outline the nominee’s educational qualifications, career history,
teaching positions and teaching experience. The following four points should be addressed in the
curriculum vitae:

Educational qualifications

Career history

Teaching positions

Teaching experience
The curriculum vitae is limited to 3 A4 pages for nominations from individuals. Teams may extend
this limit, but a limit of one page per team member is recommended.
Referee reports
Two references of no more than 1 A4 page each, provided by persons able to comment on
nominee's teaching against the nominated selection criteria.

One of the references must be from the Head of School or Dean of Faculty.
Range of teaching responsibilities
This form is attached for your convenience at the end of the guidelines.
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2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching: Student Nomination Form
Tick One:

Individual Award

Team Award
I/We
___________________________________________________________________
hereby nominate _____________________, for a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional
Teaching for 2016.
This form is to be completed by a current or former CSU student who is nominating an academic
staff member for a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching.
YOUR DETAILS AS A CSU STUDENT*
Name
Student number
Course enrolled in
Year(s) taught by nominee
Please provide reasons for nominating the above academic staff member.
Signature___________________________________Date_____________________
When you have completed this form, please return it to the academic staff member you are
nominating.
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2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching: Staff Nomination Form
I ___________________________________hereby nominate _________________, for a ViceChancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching for 2016.
YOUR DETAILS AS A CSU ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBER
First and last name
School
Faculty
Please provide reasons for nominating the above academic staff member.
Signature___________________________________Date_____________________
When you have completed this form, please return it to the academic staff member you are
nominating.
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2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional Teaching: Application Cover Page
First and last name
School/Faculty
Email
Position
Telephone
Selection Criteria
Please tick ONE selection criteria for assessment, as appropriate to the nominee’s contribution.
Approaches to teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn
Development of curricula and resources that reflect a command of the field
Approaches to assessment and feedback that foster independent learning
Respect and support for the development of students as individuals
 Individual nomination
 Team nomination
(Tick (√) one box)
For team nominations (If team is larger than five members, a team name should also be given)
Team Name
List names of other team members
Title
First and last name
Nominees’ declaration
I/We (print name of nominee or team representative)
accept nomination for a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching for 2016.
Signature
Date
Head of School’s support for nomination and authorisation:
I confirm that the information above is true and correct and that the nominee(s) referred to on this
form is/are currently a member(s) of this School’s teaching staff. I support this nomination on the
basis of the attached application.
Signature
School
Printed Name
Date
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2016 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in
Sessional teaching: Listing of Teaching
Responsibilities
(within the last three years)
Year/
Semester
Subject
Mode of
Delivery/No
of Student(s)
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Sessional Teaching
Comments
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