Excellence in Teaching: Criteria, Evidence, and Assessment

Required Documentation:

Excellence in teaching may be demonstrated through the sources of evidence listed in the table below. Similar sources of information not listed here may also be used if appropriate. Candidates need not include all of the listed pieces of evidence in their applications.

Please note that the 2012-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement (Article 14, Section 3, pages 14-5 and 14-6) stipulates that candidates must incorporatecertain pieces of information in their applications, many of which may be used to help demonstrate excellence in teaching. These include:

  • A cover letter
  • A detailed and current curricula vita
  • A letter of support from the chairperson of the candidate’s department
  • Three (3) letters of reference or support from professional and/or academic colleagues
  • For candidates seeking the rank of associate professor, a copy of the promotion and tenure plan (including reviews)
  • A narrative describing the candidate’s excellence in teaching
  • A faculty-developed summary and discussion of all student evaluations for the past three (3) academic years
  • A Dean or Chair’s in-class evaluation within the twelve (12) months preceding the application (if the candidate does not hold continuing contract or tenure)

Many of these required items have been integrated into the table below.

Evidence used to support the candidate’s application for promotion should be limited to pieces of information regarding the candidate’s teaching within the review period (the review period is defined as the period since hire or previous promotion, whichever is more recent), and that evidence should include information gathered throughout the full scope of the review period.

To demonstrate excellence in teaching promotion candidates must meet criteria 1-5
Criteria / Source(s) of Evidence / Assessment
  1. Currency in Field: Teaching reflects currency of subject matter
/ Sources of Evidence to be completed by Department/Program.
See example templates on the Provost Promotion and Tenure Resources website. / Met
Not Met
  1. Effective Communication: Information is communicated to students in an effective manner
/ Met
Not Met
  1. Fair Evaluation: Evaluation of students is conducted in a fair and unbiased fashion.
/ Met
Not Met
  1. Appropriate Course Offerings: The candidate teaches courses needed by the department consistent with the candidate’s advertised position and established scheduling procedures.
/ Met
Not Met
  1. Academic Rigor: The candidate teaches at a level of academic rigor appropriate to the level of the course.
/ Met
Not Met

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