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University of Calgary Teaching Awards Support

Drop-in Sessions

Have a specific question about your nomination package? Contact us for a 30-minute Zoom meeting with an educational development consultant for more help. 

Cover page

Each submission to the University of Calgary Teaching Awards must include a cover page. Download the PDF template at the link below.

Nomination letter

A strong nomination letter is a key component of any award application package. View strategies for writing a strong nomination letter at the link below.

 

Letters of support

Each letter of support should highlight a  strength or accomplishment related to the award criteria. For recommendations on preparing a letter of support, view the resource below.

 

Preparing your nomination package

Download and review the quick reference document below while preparing your nomination package.

Sample Dossiers and Philosophy Statements

See sample philosophy statements and dossiers from the University of Calgary Teaching Academy (past UCalgary Teaching Award recipients).

Dossier and philosophy statements

Dossiers and philosophy statements allow educators, and those who support education, to reflect on and document their practice. For more information, visit the support resources listed below, or drop-in to one of the consultation sessions listed at the top of the page.

Are you submitting a nomination for the new Inclusive Excellence award? Consider attending an upcoming workshop on how to develop an EDI statement, and visiting the Inclusive Excellence support page resources.

What is a Teaching Dossier?

Join Dr. Natasha Kenny, PhD, for this 13-minute video on how to successfully prepare a teaching dossier.

Watch now

Developing Your Teaching Dossier

Developing a teaching dossier takes significant time to prepare. This module has been designed to guide you through the process.

Learn more

Teaching Philosophies and Teaching Dossiers Guide

A robust resource for creating teaching dossiers and philosophy statements.

Learn more

Learning Technology Coaches

Do you need support with recording, editing or submitting a video as part of your nomination for the Inclusive Excellence or Indigenous Ways of Knowing award? Book a consultation with the learning technology coaches using the link below.

 

    Frequently asked questions

    The elements of the nomination package should be presented in the order they appear in the call for nominations:

    • Cover page
    • Nomination letter
    • Nomination Dossier (a maximum of 10 pages excluding letters of support)
    • Letters of support

    Colleagues, department heads, leaders, and former students can nominate someone. Nominators should be able to describe the nominee's strengths and accomplishments in relation to the award criteria. 

    Nomination letters can be written by an individual nominator or co-written by multiple nominators. A co-written letter needs to be signed by all nominators. 

    Note that only former students (not currently taught or supervised by the nominee) may nominate instructors for a Teaching Award. Current students (even when they are keen to contribute) are in a vulnerable position and so may not provide nomination letters or letters of support for a nomination.

    The nomination letter provides the first impression of the nominee to the adjudication committee. As such, it should describe the nominee’s strengths and accomplishments in relation to the award criteria.

    The nomination letter should provide an integrated summary of the entire nomination dossier and make reference to evidence provided throughout.

    The nomination letter should be limited to two pages. Nomination letters are separate from the nomination dossier and so are not included in the dossier page count.

    The Taylor Institute has created a handout on preparing a nomination letter.

    A philosophy statement is a one-page document where nominees can reflect on and express their teaching and educational leadership beliefs, why they hold these beliefs, and how they put them into practice.

    The statement is an important opportunity for the adjudicators to hear the nominee’s own voice. Philosophy statements should be written in first-person and genuinely reflect nominees' beliefs. Claims made in the philosophy statement should be substantiated in other parts of the nomination dossier and aligned with evidence throughout.

    The resources section offers a collection of sample teaching philosophy statements which can be accessed below.

    Sample teaching philosophy statements

    Each letter of support should highlight a distinct strength or accomplishment related to the award criteria and each letter should add its own value to the nomination file. Nominators should provide direction to other letter writers about the length and nature of information in their letters of support.

    Only former students (not currently taught or supervised by the nominee) should provide nomination letters or letters of support. Current students (even when they are keen to contribute) are in a vulnerable position.

    This adheres to the guidelines for the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, which state, "Please do not ask for letters from current students. They are vulnerable by definition, even when they express a strong, unprompted desire to play an active role in supporting the nomination."