The Joseph R. Accinno Faculty Teaching Award is presented annually to the faculty member who best exhibits excellence in teaching, passion and enthusiasm for learning, and genuine concern for students' academic and personal growth. The award program is administered by the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Teaching Award Selection Committee (TASC). The recipient receives a cash stipend, is formally acknowledged at the College's Academic Convocation in September, and has his or her name inscribed on a plaque that is permanently displayed in Phillips Memorial Library.

Time Line and Process:

September / October  - The Call for Nominations is broadcast to all faculty, students, staff, and alumni.  Nominations are generally made through an electronic submission form on the CTE web site.

November – A letter is sent to all faculty who have received a nomination for the teaching award.  This letter invites the candidates to proceed to the next step, which involves the submission of a brief dossier to the Teaching Award Selection Committee (TASC).  The dossier should contain the following:

syllabi from two current courses, and 
a one to two-page reflective essay on teaching philosophy

January – Teaching Award Dossiers are due to the CTE and TASC members review them together with nominations submitted in order to determine three finalists.  Substantial weight is given to the teaching philosophy, and criteria considered in the process include but are not limited to the role of the teacher as mentor, the degree to which the instructor encourages critical thinking over rote learning, the approach to teaching and learning as a reciprocal enterprise, and the promotion of student responsibility in the learning process.  The committee also considers criteria in reviewing the syllabi, such as stated learning objectives, clarity of assignments and expectations, accessibility of the professor, number of feedback / grading opportunities, etc. 

February / March – TASC members visit the three finalists’ classes in order to observe an entire class period.  Also, during one class period, the Chair of TASC will administer a Classroom Assessment Performance Survey to students to gain their feedback.  This takes approximately 40 minutes and therefore requires the instructor to designate one class period to the process.

March / April – TASC meets to share committee members' evaluations and vote on a final award recipient.  The award is generally announced at the President’s Spring Faculty / Staff Meeting.  The award is conferred at the next Fall Convocation.

April / May - TASC conducts a final meeting to vote on any changes to procedures.

For any questions about the Teaching Award Process, please contact the CTE at x1340 or cte@providence.edu