By combining modest stipends, contracts, well-structured training, instructional videotapes, individual consultations, written reports, and public recognition for faculty participants, the College of Marin (California) program in faculty classroom research has thrived. Although improved academic achievement has not been substantiated, several…

Superior college teachers can make valuable contributions to both their institutions and one another when their institutions help them form communities of expertise, modeled on national academies for outstanding individuals in the sciences and arts. The small number of such teaching academies in the United States has varied structures, goals, and…

A discussion of reward programs to recognize effective teaching looks first at the nature of existing award systems, and outlines key considerations in development of the awards, including aspects of teaching to be honored, evidence on which selections are based, and selection processes. Suggestions made by several award recipients on how to…

The evolution and design of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln's departmental system of teaching awards are outlined. Ways of rewarding outstanding teaching are suggested, including promotion, tenure, merit pay, increasing nominations for teaching awards, faculty development leaves for teaching, provision of special resources beyond the usual…

Means of honoring teaching at the United States Military Academy (New York) are discussed. The internal debate over teaching awards within this specific academic culture, in which faculty are mostly military officers, is examined and alternatives for honoring teaching are explored. Currently, a teaching academy provides faculty development in…

An alternative to individual awards to honor outstanding college teaching is the program or departmental award for teaching effectiveness. The University of Wisconsin system's program requires department members to work together to prepare a nomination portfolio and formulate a succinct statement on teaching philosophy and goals, both valuable…

A discussion of the ways in which liberal arts colleges honor exemplary teaching looks at five common practices (outstanding teacher awards, mentoring programs, articles in school publications, participation in national award systems, and merit raises) and makes recommendations for designing and strengthening reward programs and improving the…

In award programs designed to honor exemplary college teaching, common problems include selection procedures and criteria, bias toward popularity, competition versus collaboration, questionable incentives, and use of special awards to replace continuing rewards. An effective teaching awards program will pass three tests of selection validity,…

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy is developing a program to assist in teaching skills instruction for pharmaceutical faculty, help faculty assess their own and peers' teaching, create criteria for determining teaching excellence, and institute a certification system for the designation Master Teacher in Pharmaceutical Education.…