Graduate Teaching Assistant Teaching Award
Overview
Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics make a significant contribution to undergraduate teaching and learning at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This award is designed to promote and recognize the excellent and effective teaching of GTAs as instructors of undergraduate mathematics classes. One award is given semi-annually to one graduate teaching assistant, which includes a certificate and a cash prize of $500 and will be presented at the GTA meeting in the beginning of each fall or spring semester.
Eligibility Criteria
GTAs currently being enrolled fulltime and teaching at least one undergraduate-level course (3 or more hours per week) for an entire fall or spring semester are eligible for the award for that particular semester. Eligible GTAs must also have satisfactorily fulfilled their GTA duties beyond their own classroom responsibilities such as tutoring undergraduates in the Mathematics Learning Center, if applicable. Past recipients of the award are eligible only if two or more years have elapsed since they received their last award, and each individual GTA is limited to two awards over the course of his/her graduate study in the department.
Selection Procedures and Criteria
All eligible GTAs will be identified by the Graduate Coordinator and will be automatically considered for the award. No separate nominations are needed. The Graduate Coordinator shall prepare teaching portfolios of the eligible GTAs and present them to the Graduate Curriculum Committee for review.
The recipient of the award will be selected by the Graduate Curriculum Committee based on the GTA’s record of excellence and effectiveness in the undergraduate classroom, as evidenced by documents including the following:
- The GTA’s class average on the common final (if applicable), to be compared to the department average of the same common final;
- The summary of the GTA’s student teaching evaluation, to be compared to the corresponding group averages;
- The GTA’s class DFW rate;
- Teaching materials prepared by the GTA associated with the classes he/she teaches such as course syllabus, quizzes, projects, tests and final exams;
- The classroom observation report from the GTA’s faculty advisor/mentor;
- Feedback from students during the semester.