The Sears Helgoth Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes the University of Northern Colorado’s (UNC's) commitment to high-quality and innovative teaching along with the historical importance of the teaching mission at UNC by rewarding faculty members (tenured, tenure-track, contract renewable) who have made outstanding contributions to teaching and learning that result in the enhancement of the intellectual development and lives of students.

The award, supported by the generosity of Kathleen Sears and Jim Helgoth and administered by the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, is given annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated a record of excellence in instruction at UNC. The recipient will receive a plaque, recognition at Convocation, and a monetary award, currently $6,650.

Application Deadline

The deadline for receipt of completed application materials is April 15, 2024, by 11:59 p.m.  

Application Process

To apply for this award, please notify the Associate Dean of EBS, Robyn Hess, robyn.hess@unco.edu of your interest so that you can be entered into the Faculty Success Workflow.

Email Notification of Interest

Submit the following materials via Faculty Success (hard copies will not be accepted):

1. Application letter (no more than three pages) that addresses the scoring rubric and includes attention to the following topics:

• • • Teaching philosophy
    • Discussion of student learning outcomes
    • Outline of assessment practices
    • Evidence of innovative pedagogy
    • A brief summary of strengths and areas for growth based on student evaluations
    • Evidence of continuous growth/reflective practice in teaching (e.g., peer review/observation, response to student evaluations, teaching journal)

2. Sample syllabi and course materials (consider using excerpts).
3. Assessments, e.g., examinations, project requirements, scoring rubrics.
4. Peer/supervisor evaluations of teaching (if available) OR Letter of support from Chair/Director commenting on individual’s teaching and responsiveness to students.
5. Any additional relevant documentation to support your application (e.g., unscheduled teaching, community work).

The committee will give consideration in the review process to documentation that reflects excellence in instruction, including the teaching philosophy statement, assessments and feedback to students, reflective practice, and the use of innovative pedagogy. The scoring rubric used by the committee includes: teaching philosophy, assessment information, student outcomes, evidence of reflective practice, innovative pedagogy, and overall impression.

Application Submission and Review

The total submission should not be more than 25 pages with a 12pt font and 1-inch margins used throughout, including in supporting materials.

Applications will be reviewed and the awardee selected by a committee of assistant/associate deans, one from each academic college, and previous award recipients. Associate Dean, Robyn Hess, of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, chairs the committee.

The committee recognizes all instructional activity in an applicant's career. That is, we interpret teaching broadly (unscheduled teaching, community teaching, grant-related teaching). Although challenging to judge a single awardee among the various disciplines and delivery methods, the committee has the pleasure of selecting the most distinguished teacher among many.