To advance and recognize the excellent teaching in the College of Natural Sciences that is core to our mission, each year we set aside time to bring teaching faculty together for discussions about teaching and a celebration of outstanding leaders in the classroom.
College of Natural Science Teaching Excellence Awards
It is the intention of the Dean's Office to increase awareness of excellent teachers and to promote quality teaching in the College of Natural Sciences by recognizing faculty members who have had a positive influence on the educational experience of our students.
Any CNS department may submit CNS Teaching Excellence Award nominations. Faculty from across the college are selected for annual Teaching Excellence Awards by the CNS Teaching Awards Committee.
Eligibility: Faculty teaching at any rank are eligible.
Stanley J. Roux, Jr. Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award
The College of Natural Sciences is leading the way at the University of Texas at Austin in providing experiential learning opportunities for our students through implementation of authentic research and hands-on engagement as a teaching tool in their classrooms. Recipients of this award will have demonstrated innovative pedagogy by using novel research and/or hands-on learning activities in their science classroom with demonstrated positive impacts on undergraduate student learning and outcomes.
It is a goal of the Dean’s Office to engage the broader CNS teaching community to embrace experiential learning by incorporating authentic research experiences and other modes of experiential learning in their courses. Self-nominations, peer-nominations, and CNS departmental nominations are accepted for this award.
Eligibility: Faculty teaching at any rank are eligible. Eligible faculty must be engaged in undergraduate instruction.
Honoring Diversity & Inclusivity
The College of Natural Sciences values the academic and community benefits that result from diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus. Consideration of such accomplishments is integrated into the teaching award nomination forms and review criteria.
Teaching Discovery Day
Exceptional teachers abound in the College of Natural Sciences. In a tradition begun in 2016, each fall, dozens of award-winning faculty members open up their classrooms for Teaching Discovery Day.
These outstanding teaching faculty host visits from other CNS faculty who sit in on the classes in small groups. Award-winning faculty who are not teaching on Teaching Discovery Day are invited to help lead small group discussions with their colleagues about their observations and any best practices in teaching gleaned from the day.
The college also hosts a special annual gathering to celebrate teaching with, discussions about teaching and a celebration of Teaching Excellence Award and other teaching award winners.
