University of Michigan Teaching Awards

The University of Michigan recognizes and values good teaching. As a result, outstanding teaching is a criterion for many awards and prizes offered on campus, including the central administrative awards and the awards specific to different schools, colleges, and programs at U-M listed below.

Click on the award title for more information.
U-M Central Administration Awards
Title and Sponsor Application Deadline Amount Description
Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
Rackham Graduate School
Late January $1,500

Honors faculty members who have advised a substantial number of doctoral students over a number of years.  Nominees should be scholars with a…

Rackham Master's Mentoring Award
Rackham Graduate School
Late January $1,500

Honors and encourages the accomplishments of faculty who have advised a substantial number of Rackham Master's degree students over a number of…

John H. D'Arms Faculty Award for Distinguished Graduate Mentoring in the Humanities
Rackham Graduate School
Late January $5,000

Honors scholars and/or creative artists who have a sustained history of advising Ph.D. students, who demonstrate extraordinary generosity of…

Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
Rackham Graduate School
Late January $1,000

Recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) who demonstrate a passion for sharing knowledge and experience,…

Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship
Office of the Provost
Early December - Chairs and directors submit nominations. $20,000

Honors those tenured faculty whose commitment to and investment in undergraduate teaching has had a demonstrable impact on the intellectual…

Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award
Rackham Graduate School
Mid February $2,500

Honors senior faculty who have consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, have a…

Faculty Recognition Award
Rackham Graduate School
Mid February $2,000

Honors mid-career faculty who have demonstrated remarkable contributions to the University through outstanding achievements in scholarly research…

Provost's Teaching Innovation Prize
CRLT
Office of the Provost
University Library
Early February $5,000

Recognizes faculty who have developed an innovative project, e.g., new uses of instructional technology, new ways to engage students in the…

Distinguished University Professorship
Rackham Graduate School
Early March $10,000

Recognizes exceptional scholarly and/or creative achievements, national and international reputation, superior teaching and mentoring, and an…

Henry Russel Award
Rackham Graduate School
Late March $1,200

Recognizes faculty members early in their academic careers who already have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarly…

Henry Russel Lectureship
Rackham Graduate School
Late March $2,000

Recognizes a faculty member of exceptional achievements in research, scholarship and/or creative endeavors, and outstanding record of…

The University of Michigan Golden Apple Award
Various
N/A $1,000

Honors teachers who consistently teach as if each lecture were their last, and strive not only to disseminate knowledge but to inspire and engage…

U-M School and College Awards
Title and Sponsor Application Deadline Amount Description
American Academy of Periodontology Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award
School of Dentistry
N/A N/A

Recognizes the periodontal educator who had demonstrated a commitment to excellence in providing education in the full scope of clinical…

R.D. Richards Memorial Faculty Award
Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
Varies $1,000

Recognizes extraordinary teaching, creative work, and service.

Neary Teaching Excellence Awards
Ross School of Business
N/A $1,000

Recognizes outstanding contributions to students' learning experience at the Ross School of Business.  One award is given per academic program:…

Elizabeth Crosby Award
School of Medicine
November n/a

Presented to a faculty member for outstanding teaching of medical students in a basic science area.

 

For a detailed description,…

Kaiser-Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching
School of Medicine
December $5,000

The Kaiser Award is the most prestigious teaching award given by the Medical School.  Two awards are given each year - one for preclinical and one…

Imes and Moore Mentorship Award
College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts
Mid February $3,000

This award is for tenure-track and tenured members of the Natural Science faculty in the College of LS&A.  Persons nominated for this award…

Individual Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education
College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts
Mid February $3,500

*formerly known as the Excellence in Education Awards

Nominees should have made special contributions to the College's educational mission…

Departmental Award for Contributions to the Undergraduate Initiative
College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts
February $25,000

Awarded to a department or program that has demonstrated special commitment to undergraduate education, as a complement to awards given to…

Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award
College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts
Mid February $2,500

Award recipients have demonstrated outstanding teaching during their first years on the faculty.  While this award recognizes teaching, it is only…

The Matthews Underclass Teaching Award
College of Literature, Sciences & the Arts
Mid February $1,000

This award is presented to a member of the faculty who has made a distinctive contribution to teaching in courses at the first- or second-year…

Senior Year Award
School of Medicine
February n/a

This award will be presented to a clinical faculty member below the rank of Associate Professor who, in the opinion of the graduating class, best…

Students for SEAS Outstanding GSI Teaching Awards
School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
February n/a

This award was established by the student governing board in 1995 to recognize teaching excellence.  Selections are made by the students of the…

Students for SEAS Outstanding Teaching Award
School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
February n/a

This award was established by the student governing board in 1995 to recognize teaching excellence.  Selections are made by the students of the…

Victor L. Bernard Teaching Leadership Award
Ross School of Business
February N/A

Recognizes demonstrated excellence in new course development, colleagues or student mentoring; development of new teaching materials such as cases…

Teaching Excellence Award
College of Pharmacy
February $1,000

Factors considered are: clear and logical presentation of material, fair and appropriate evaluations of student performance, ability to motivate…

Student's Choice Award for Teaching
School of Kinesiology
March n/a

Uses innovative instruction; provides an enriching, inspiring environment for learning; is approachable and enthusiastic about teaching; has high…

L. Hart Wright Outstanding Teaching Award
School of Law
March n/a

Recognizes excellence in teaching at the Law School.  Recipients are selected by the Law School Student Senate from nominations on the March…

SI Outstanding GSI Award
School of Information
April $1,000

Awarded to recognize a GSI on the basis of teaching ratings and comments from students.

Yahoo! Students' Choice Award
School of Information
April $500

Yahoo@ initiated these awards in 2008 as a means of recognizing outstanding students who exhibit the highest degree of excellence in teaching.

Yahoo! Innovative Teaching with Technology Award
School of Information
April $500

Yahoo! initiated these awards in 2008 as a means or recognizing outstanding students who exhibit the highest degree of excellence in teaching.

May Edna Doyle Teacher of the Year Award
School of Nursing
April $1,000

Recipients are faculty members in the School of Nursing and are selected by students, faculty, and, staff by a vote in March.  Nominated faculty…

Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Education
School of Medicine
Early May $5,000

This award recognizes truly outstanding faculty educators who are making exceptional contributions to medical education, and honors lifetime…

Distinguished Faculty Award
School of Social Work
July $1,000

Recognizes a faculty member who has achieved national recognition in scholarship and service, demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring,…

Thomas M. Sawyer, Jr. Teaching Award Mid November $4,000

Awarded to non tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated sustained excellence in instruction and guidance at the undergraduate levels, including…

1938E Award
College of Engineering
Mid November $10,000

Recognizes an outstanding teacher in both elementary and advanced courses, an understanding counselor of students who seek guidance in their…

Neil Van Eenam Memorial Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award
College of Engineering
Mid November $4,000

Recognizes an innovative and outstanding teacher in undergraduate education at the College of Engineering.

Stephen S. Attwood Excellence in Engineering Award
College of Engineering
Mid November $15,000

Recognizes a faculty member who has extraordinary achievement in teaching, research, service, and other activities that have brought distinction…

Education Excellence Award
College of Engineering
Mid November $4,000

Recognizes faculty with a demonstrated sustained excellence in curricular development, instruction, and guidance at both the undergraduate and…

Harold Haugh Award
School of Music, Theater and Dance
December $5,000

This recipient will show excellence if private studio teaching.  The recipient will also deliver a lecture or a lecture-demonstration under the…

The American Medical Women's Association Gender Equality Award
School of Medicine
n/a n/a

Honors those faculty members who promote a gender-fair environment for the education and training of physicians and assure equal opportunities for…

Instructor of the Year (Hygiene)
School of Dentistry
N/A N/A

Recognizes the outstanding clinical faculty member of the year.  This senior award honors the instructor whom students believe has had the…

Instructor of the Year (D1, D2, D3, and D4 Clinics)
School of Dentistry
N/A N/A

Recognizes the outstanding faculty member of the year.  A recipient is selected from each clinic by students.

Paul Gibbons Award
School of Dentistry
N/A N/A

Recognizes the instructor that students believe has had the greatest influence on them during the four years of their predoctoral program.

Most Valuable Planner, Urban and Regional Planning Program
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
N/A N/A

Recognizes excellence in teaching and advising.  The recipient is selected by a vote of the students receiving a Master of Urban Planning degree…

Excellence in Teaching Award
School of Public Health
n/a $1,000

Recipients are selected on: student and faculty evaluations of nominee and course taught; content and appropriateness of course syllabus, evidence…

Teaching Honor Roll
Ford School of Public Policy
n/a n/a

Recipients are based on E&E Excellent Teacher scores above thresholds for core and non-core courses.

Donna M. Salzer Award for Excellence in Teaching
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
N/A N/A

Recognizes excellence in teaching and advising. The undergraduate senior class selects one recipient, and the graduating master's class selects…