• support and reward faculty who actively analyze the impact of their teaching on students' learning
• encourage and support outstanding faculty in developing projects to share knowledge and expertise
• recognize both teaching and research as valid aspects of scholarship
• reward proven excellence in teaching
  

Each year, a Distinguished Teaching Professor is selected to begin the three-year term the next academic year. Reappointment is possible, but not in successive terms. These three NEH DTPs recognize excellent undergraduate teaching in the humanities:

• Richard A. and Sarah Page Mayo Distinguished Teaching Professorship
  
• Horace W. Goldsmith Distinguished Teaching Professorship
  
• Daniels Family Distinguished Teaching Professorship

Who is eligible?

Current UVa associate and full professors in any humanities department who teach at least two undergraduate courses each year. Tenured and non-tenure-track faculty are equally eligible.

Why Be a DTP?

A Distinguished Teaching Professorship enables profound research on teaching and learning, while providing opportunities to think innovatively and integrate new ideas. The award enables faculty to work with the Teaching Resource Center to accomplish such aims as these:

• investigate how their teaching affects students’ learning
• deepen connections between teaching and research
• share their knowledge with colleagues
• promote interdisciplinary dialogue.
  

Reflection of this sort can reinvigorate one's career, as previous NEH Distinguished Teaching Professors note:

• This opportunity inspires new explorations into teaching and learning.
• As NEH DTP, scholars explore individual concerns, while inherently enriching the UVa community through shared results.
• Holding this professorship helps forge new connections with colleagues in other disciplines.
• For some, the award rejuvenates excitement about teaching.

The award carries significant financial benefits. During the three-year term, each DTP receives the following:

• two additional months' salary and a salary enhancement
• an annual $2,000 research fund from the President's Office
• during the first two years, a reduction of one course each year to provide time for research and dissemination projects
• project expenses of up to $10,000, including funding to hire a graduate student assistant encouraged to work with the Teaching Resource Center
  

What are the responsibilities?

1) Carry out one or more personal projects designed to promote productive dialogue about teaching and learning in the discipline, and disseminate the research results. For descriptions of former projects, click here. Possible projects:

• Gathering, analyzing, and sharing data to understand how well students are learning from the teaching offered (whether a traditional or innovative teaching approach)
• Investigating innovative teaching methods and sharing discoveries with colleagues
• Surveying colleagues at other institutions about teaching the discipline and/or designing undergraduate curricula
• Leading provocative discussions about teaching the humanities and/or liberal arts
• Spearheading efforts to develop interdisciplinary programs for the humanities
  

2) Work with the Teaching Resource Center to share—through workshops, discussions, publications—creative and effective undergraduate teaching that promotes students' learning.

3) Submit each year by June 30, to the Teaching Resource Center Director, a written report of the preceding year's NEH DTP activities, accomplishments, and expenditures.

How do I apply?

Distinguished Teaching Professors know their disciplines very well, motivate and inspire students, and actively engage students in learning. To evaluate these criteria, the selection committee requests the documentation listed below. Sections 1-5 must be delivered on a flash drive to the Dean's Office, Randall Hall 205, labeled as indicated below with each of the five files in PDF or MSWord format. The confidential letters should be sent separately to the associate dean at the address below. Application materials will be loaded to a Collab site which can be accessed only by the selection committee. Flash drives may be retrieved a week after the deadline. Recommended total maximum length: 15 pages in Times New Roman, 12-point font, single-spaced; double-spaced between paragraphs.

1. Applicant's reflective teaching philosophy statement, demonstrating dedication to improving teaching and students' learning [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Statement of Teaching Philosophy]
2. Applicant's proposed project(s) as NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Proposed Project(s) as NEH DTP]
3. Applicant's record of experience with and interest in humanities courses, as evidenced by course descriptions (entire syllabi are not necessary) [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Record of Experience]
4. Evidence of teaching expertise, demonstrated by summaries of student evaluations, including students' comments [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Student Evaluations]
5. Brief curriculum vitae (2 pages recommended) [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Curriculum vitae]
6. Letter of support from department chair [FY12-13 Last Name, First Name Letter of Support from Department Chair] 7) One-page (12-point Times New Roman) letters detailing the applicant's strengths in teaching, specifically these:
   • from two former undergraduate students
   • from one or two colleagues who have observed the applicant's teaching
     

The selection committee works under the auspices of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Send nominations and applications to Cristina Della Coletta, Associate Dean for Humanities and the Arts, 205 Randall Hall, PO Box 400772, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4771.  The deadline is Thursday, February 28, 2013.  For more information, contact Marva Barnett at the Teaching Resource Center (marva@virginia.edu; 982-2816).

View former project descriptions