Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence
AY 15-16 Nomination Guidance
Purpose: This award recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching by any West Point
faculty member with five years or less of teaching experience. Recipients receive recognition at
the May Academic Luncheon and the Fall Academic Convocation.
Eligibility: All USMA faculty who have five years or less of teaching experience at the college
level, whether at West Point or at another institution of higher learning.
Selection criteria: The Selection Committee (composed of Dean’s Faculty Award Committee
members) assesses the applicants based on the following criteria:
1) Develops and fosters exceptional cadet engagement in course material. Considerations for
these criteria include, but are not limited to, the following: the quality of delivery of
classroom instruction; the cadets’ respect for the faculty member, each other, and the course
material; the quality of cadet discussion; exceptional cadet achievement.
2) Inspires lifelong learning skills. Considerations for these criteria include, but are not limited
to, the following: inspiring independent study/reading to enhance learning; stimulating cadet
ideas about continued learning; sharing additional information to foster interest and learning;
engaging in discussions that promote learning beyond the classroom.
3) Makes constructive contributions to the curriculum. Considerations for these criteria include,
but are not limited to, the following: assessing, designing, developing, and/or improving a
lesson or portion of a course; the earned respect of peers; recognition as a subject-matter
expert.
Selection Procedure:
The Dean of the Academic Board selects the Award recipient, based on a nomination from the
Awards Committee. The Awards Committee makes recommendations to the Dean based on
submissions received by the Committee in accordance with the announced submission criteria.
Submission deadline for this academic year’s award is 1600 hours, Tuesday, 22 March 2016.
The Dean will announce the award recipient at the May Academic Luncheon, and the award will
be conferred at the Fall Academic Convocation.
Format:
Please submit nominations electronically to COL Tania Chacho, Awards Committee Chair, by
22 March 2016. The nomination consists of:

Department Head Nominating Letter. No more than two single-spaced pages (using
standard 1” margins and 12 point Times New Roman font) discussing how the candidate
fosters exceptional cadet engagement, inspires lifelong learning skills, and makes
constructive contributions to the curriculum. It should also include:
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o
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
Name of nominee
Department
Academic rank
Number of years teaching at collegiate level (not including TA time)
Candidate Teaching Philosophy. No more than one single-spaced page (using
standard 1” margins and 12 point Times New Roman font) from the candidate containing
thoughts on teaching.
The Awards Committee also conducts a student survey of faculty candidates, and this input
comprises the final portion of the packet.