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Florida State University

Mentoring TAs: Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE)

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards

Teaching Assistant with Students

Nominations for Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards (OTAA) are now being accepted for 2008-2009.

Purpose

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards are given to teaching assistants (TAs) in recognition of their distinguished contributions to undergraduate student learning through excellence in instruction.

Eligibility

Eligible nominees should:

  • exhibit exceptional instructional excellence as a lab or lecturer, instructor, recitation leader, or as a course facilitator for a faculty member (face-to-face or online)

  • have been involved in undergraduate or graduate instruction at FSU for at least two semesters, one of which must be during Spring 2008 - Spring 2009

  • have NOT previously received an OTAA award, and are NOT currently a PIE Associate

  • be a FSU degree-seeking graduate student hired as a TA
Download the OTAA Eligibility Form Acrobat icon(160 kb)
  • Presentation
    Graduate student awards (OTAA, Leadership Research & Creativity, PFF Fellows, and PIE Associates) will be presented at the Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence Ceremony held each spring during the National Graduate and Professional Appreciation Week.

  • Deadlines
    • Nominations: January 30, 2009
    • Portfolio submissions: TBA

Criteria

Nominees will have demonstrated skills, abilities and contributions that result in a high level of respect from undergraduate students and academic or course supervisors, in several of the following areas:

  • Demonstrates a broad knowledge of the field, and the ability to help students actively learn new knowledge, skills and perspectives, evidenced by: intro page, nomination forms, letters, Teaching Philosophy, SUSSAI, other supporting documents

  • Shows evidence of working in a collegial manner with students, faculty supervisors and graduate teaching assistant colleagues evidenced by: nomination forms, intro page, letters, SUSSAI

  • Shows evidence of incorporating new teaching skills learned through workshops, seminars and/or self-directed learning evidenced by: CV, Teaching Philosophy, 7 Principals Reflection, other supporting documents.

  • Acts as a role model, demonstrating high standards, good listening skills and ethics evidenced by: nomination forms, letters, SUSSAI, other supporting documents.

Procedure

All currently enrolled FSU students, faculty, and staff may nominate TAs for this award. Individuals seeking to nominate a TA should fill out the online nomination form. The nominees will be informed of nomination after the January 31, 2008 deadline. To be eligible for an award nominees are required to submit a Teaching Portfolio. The OTAA committee will evaluate portfolios.

    How to submit your nomination:
    • Nominate a TA for Excellence in Instruction (online form requires authentication)
      Nominations for Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards (OTAA) for 2008-2009 will be accepted March 17, 2008 through Jan 30, 2009.

    • Print Acrobat icon(164 kb)

      Mail completed forms to:
      FSU Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards Committee
      Suite C-3500 University Center
      Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2550
      Campus Mail Code: 2550

      Or fax to: 850-644-5803

  • 2007-2008 Nominees for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards

  • 2008 Graduate Student Award Recognition
    At the annual Celebration of Graduate Student Excellence held at Dodd Hall Auditorium on April 2nd, the university honored graduate students for excellence in teaching, research and creativity, leadership, contributions to the university and community, and service to fellow graduate students. Each of the seventeen award winners received a framed certificate and $500. The program also honored fourteen Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Associates, twenty-two candidates for the Graduate Student Leadership Award, three Interdisciplinary Dialogues recipients, and eighty-three students nominated for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards (OTAA). All of the graduate student awards are generously supported by Academic & Professional Program Services (APPS), Office of Graduate Studies, Vice President for Research, and Congress of Graduate Students (COGS).

    Register online for CTL workshops.

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