Excellence in Teaching Archives - Faculty of Science /science/tag/excellence-in-teaching/ 91ÑÇÉ« Science is a hub of research and teaching excellence. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:32:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 Faculty of Science ceremony honours students and faculty members for academic, teaching and research excellence /science/2024/02/12/faculty-of-science-ceremony-honours-students-and-faculty-members-for-academic-teaching-and-research-excellence/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:52:36 +0000 /science/?p=31057 On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Faculty of Science hosted its annual Honours & Awards Ceremony to celebrate its students, instructors and researchers for their achievements and service. More than 200 people attended the event, held in the Second Student Centre, including students and their family members and supporters, faculty members and staff. A keynote […]

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]]> On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Faculty of Science hosted its annual Honours & Awards Ceremony to celebrate its students, instructors and researchers for their achievements and service. More than 200 people attended the event, held in the Second Student Centre, including students and their family members and supporters, faculty members and staff. A keynote address was presented by Faculty of Science alumna Naz Chaudary (PhD ’04), a cancer research scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Vivian Saridakis and Darran Fernandez with a group of students who received awards and scholarships
Vivian Saridakis (left), Darran Fernandez (right) and group of students being recognized for their awards and scholarships.
Dean Rui Wang and Naz Chaudary
Dean Rui Wang and Naz Chaudary

The ceremony recognized about 400 postdoctoral Fellows and undergraduate and graduate Science students who received awards and scholarships between September 2022 and August 2023. In his welcoming remarks, Faculty of Science Dean Rui Wang expressed admiration for the students in attendance, saying: “As I look out at our students in the audience, I feel honoured to be in the presence of our future inventors, problem solvers, practitioners, activists, and community convenors who will help us secure a future that is sustainable, equitable, and just for all.â€

As the award recipients were named, including in three categories at the postdoctoral level, 20 at the graduate level, 32 at the undergraduate level, and 30 at the departmental level, they came up to the stage to be congratulated and applauded by their peers, supporters and mentors.

Master of ceremonies and Associate Dean of Students Michael Scheid and Associate Dean of Research & Partnerships Vivian Saridakis also announced the recipients of the Faculty of Science Excellence in Educational Leadership Awards – an inaugural award category – as well as the Excellence in Teaching Awards and Excellence in Research Awards. The recipients of these awards were

  • Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, Faculty category: Associate Professor Amenda Chow, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, and Chair and Associate Professor Vera Pavri, Department of Science, Technology and Society
  • Excellence in Educational Leadership award, Graduate student category: PhD students Laura Keane and Yohana Solomon, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Junior Tenure Stream Faculty category: Assistant Professor Stephanie Domenikos, Department of Science, Technology and Society
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Contract Faculty category: Sessional Assistant Professor Charlotte de Araujo, Department of Biology
  • Richard Jarrell Award of Excellence for Teaching Assistants: recent MSc graduate Amanvir Virdi, Department of Biology
  • Early Career Research Award : Associate Professor Elizabeth Clare, Department of Biology
  • Established Research Award: Professor Randy Lewis, Department of Physics & Astronomy
  • Excellence in Graduate Mentorship Award: Associate Professor Iain Moyles, Department of Mathematics & Statistics
Vera Pavri and Vivian Saridakis
Vera Pavri and Vivian Saridakis

At the end of the event, Scheid expressed thanks to the Faculty of Science Dean’s Office staff for leading the planning and execution of the event, as well as the Faculty’s executive team, department chairs, and faculty members, and senior leaders from the University who assisted in announcing and congratulating the award winners. In addition to Scheid and Saridakis, the award announcers and presenters included Associate Dean of Faculty Gerald Audette, Associate Vice-President Research Jennifer Hyndman, Assistant Vice-President of Facilities Services Brad Parkes, Assistant Vice-Provost and University Registrar Darran Fernandez, Assistant Vice-President of Global Engagement and Partnerships Vinitha Gengatharan, and department Chairs Vera Pavri (Science, Technology, Society), Robert Tsushima (Biology), Jennifer van Wijngaarden (Chemistry), Michael Haslam (Mathematics & Statistics), and Patrick Hall (Physics & Astronomy), and professors Elizabeth Clare, Derek Jackson, Iain Moyles, Randy Lewis, and Jill Lazenby.

For more details about the awards and a full list of recipients, view the ceremony program booklet.

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]]> Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award /science/teaching-and-learning/spotlight-on-teaching/teaching-learning-awards/excellence-teaching-award/ Tue, 16 May 2023 17:02:59 +0000 /science/?page_id=26111 Nominees must submit complete nomination packages including all required materials by October 31, 11:59 pm ET. Please note that this deadline is for receipt of COMPLETE NOMINATION packages including information such as reference letters etc. The Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award is awarded to faculty members who have exemplified exceptional teaching skills and […]

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Nominees must submit complete nomination packages including all required materials by October 31, 11:59 pm ET. Please note that this deadline is for receipt of COMPLETE NOMINATION packages including information such as reference letters etc.

The Faculty of Science Excellence in Teaching Award is awarded to faculty members who have exemplified exceptional teaching skills and an unwavering commitment to student success.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE OCTOBER 31 ANNUALLY.

Quick Links

Award Categories

  • Senior Tenure-Stream Faculty (>7 years of Undergraduate teaching experience at 91ÑÇÉ« as a full-time faculty member)
  • Junior Tenure-Stream Faculty (<=7 years of Undergraduate teaching experience at 91ÑÇÉ« as a full-time faculty member)
  • Contract Faculty (includes contract/sessional faculty members and contractually limited appointments [CLAs])

Nomination Process

Evidence of excellence based on activities within the Faculty of Science will be the primary basis for all awards. Evidence based on activities external to the Faculty of Science will be considered supplemental. A winner in any category is not eligible for the same award in the same category within any seven-year period.

The nominee should have demonstrated continuous excellence in Teaching and Learning in the classroom, which may include any of the following (note this list is not exhaustive):

  • responds to diverse student experiences;
  • fosters intellectual growth;
  • supports the development of new insights;
  • deepens critical thinking;
  • communicates passion for the subject matter;
  • nurtures the creation of new knowledge;
  • responds to different needs of students;
  • inspires student learning;
  • uses creative forms to engage students;
  • contributes to the transformation of curriculum and teaching/learning practises on campus and beyond, both within and outside of classrooms;
  • works collaboratively with colleagues to enrich teaching practises;
  • supports the development of teaching/learning capacities and technical skills of graduate and/or undergraduate students;
  • nurtures the intellectual and scholarly growth of graduate and/or undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds;
  • provides mentorship and advising in academics, either formally or informally.

There are two pathways for completing a nomination package:

  1. A nomination is triggered by the accumulation of a minimum number of unique nomination/support letters from students over a four-year period (5 letters for faculty). The Chair of CoTL will contact the nominated teaching assistant/faculty to inform them of the nomination and invite the nominee to complete the package.
  2. A faculty member, student or staff member may initiate and coordinate the preparation and submission of a nomination package.

In both cases the nomination package must include the following:

  1. Minimum required nomination/support letters from undergraduate students taught* by the nominee (5 for faculty).
  2. A minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 faculty member letters of support
  3. The nominee's current CV (5 pages maximum)
  4. A Teaching Statement by the nominee

*Note: students must have been taught by the nominee in a course. Letters based on supervision can be submitted as supplemental to the minimum package requirements.

Letters should describe and provide evidence for teaching excellence, addressing (without being restricted to) the criteria listed above.
Students may not write a letter for someone who is currently teaching and/or supervising them. Students may wish to encourage other students to write letters to trigger a nomination.

Graduate students (teaching assistants) may also submit letters of support for faculty or teaching assistants, but such letters must be in addition to the required undergraduate student letters, not replacing them.

If the nominee does not have sufficient letters to trigger a nomination, letters will be kept for four years.

If a nominee has enough letters to trigger a nomination, but is not awarded, their nomination will automatically remain active for consideration the following academic year. CoTL will accept additional materials to the package in the second year, including additional letters of support, and/or updated files. File review in the second year may be delayed for personal leave (e.g., parental leave). The delay will be equivalent to the amount of leave taken, or the until the nominee would like to be reconsidered, whichever comes first. Following the two-year period, the nomination expires, and a new nomination process must be initiated.

Nomination Forms

For students and teaching assistants: Use this form nominate your professor.

For faculty nominees: Use this form to submit a current CV and Teaching Statement.

* Please only submit if you have been informed that you have been officially nominated.

For faculty members: Use this form to submit a Letter of Support for the nomination of a colleague.

* Please only submit for candidates who have been informed that they are officially nominated.

Are you an alumni?

Submit a nomination by contacting the CoTL Chair at scicotl@yorku.ca.

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]]> Teaching & Learning Awards /science/teaching-and-learning/spotlight-on-teaching/teaching-learning-awards/ Tue, 16 May 2023 17:02:08 +0000 /science/?page_id=25993 Complete nomination packages, including all required materials, for the Excellence in Teaching Awards and the Excellence in Educational Leadership Awards are due October 31 at 11:59pm ET. Please note that this deadline is for receipt of COMPLETE NOMINATION packages including information such as reference letters etc. Nominations can be submitted at any time. The Faculty […]

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Complete nomination packages, including all required materials, for the Excellence in Teaching Awards and the Excellence in Educational Leadership Awards are due October 31 at 11:59pm ET. Please note that this deadline is for receipt of COMPLETE NOMINATION packages including information such as reference letters etc. Nominations can be submitted at any time.

The Faculty of Science proudly recognizes faculty members and graduate students who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and excellence in teaching and learning within our programs. These outstanding educators employ innovative techniques and actively engage students, creating dynamic and impactful learning experiences.

Nominate a faculty member for an award

The Faculty of Science honors esteemed faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to teaching and learning in our programs.

Faculty member teaching in a lecture hall

Faculty of Science
Excellence in Teaching
Award

SUBMIT A NOMINATION
students and a professor in a lecure hall

Faculty of Science
Excellence in Educational
Leadership Award

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Nominate a graduate student for an award

The Faculty of Science recognizes the remarkable contributions of graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and learning within our programs. We are pleased to present two award categories exclusively for graduate students.

Teaching Assistant speaking with students

Richard Jarrell
Excellence in
Teaching at the
Graduate Level Award

SUBMIT A NOMINATION
Teaching Assistant speaking with students

Faculty of Science
Excellence in Educational
Leadership Award at the Graduate Level

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact the CoTL Chair at scicotl@yorku.ca.

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