Last call for 2026 nominations for TLC Teaching Awards!
The Teaching and Learning Center invites nominations from anyone in the UT Health Sciences community for three teaching awards given to faculty who exhibit outstanding effort in implementing active learning strategies, creating a welcoming environment for students, and advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning. The purpose of these awards is to recognize and celebrate excellence in teaching and scholarship to foster an environment that values and rewards teaching efforts. Recipients of the three awards will be selected by committees of UTHS faculty and students. Each recipient will receive a $500 stipend, a plaque, and recognition at the TLC’s annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence (scheduled for August 21, 2026).
The three awards are:
- Active Learning Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of faculty who consistently implement active learning strategies to enhance student engagement in the learning process. By using active learning strategies, faculty foster a dynamic learning environment where students engage in higher-order thinking to actively construct new knowledge. The TLC defines active learning as “any instructional method that engages students in the learning process. In short, active learning requires students to do meaningful learning activities and think about what they are doing.” (Prince, 2004).
- Heart of Teaching Award celebrates a member of the UT Health Sciences faculty who embodies the spirit of education in the health sciences. This individual inspires curiosity, fosters compassion, and ignites a lifelong passion for learning in their students. This honor recognizes educators who go beyond delivering knowledge, nurturing both the intellectual and human dimensions of healthcare. By creating supportive learning environments and modeling the values of empathy, integrity, and excellence, recipients of the Heart of Teaching Award exemplify the impact that teaching has on shaping future health professionals and advancing the mission of the university.
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Award recognizes the achievement of faculty who have contributed an outstanding paper or presentation related to the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Who?
Anyone (faculty, student, or staff) in the UT Health Sciences community can nominate any UTHS faculty including all appointment levels and all UTHS campuses. Self-nominations are accepted.
When?
Nominations are currently open and will close April 1, 2025.
How?
Complete the nomination form: https://uthsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_da64zyL0nGqL674.
More information can be found on the TLC Website: https://uthsc.edu/tlc/teaching-awards.php.