Fall 2007 Recipient

Department of Spanish & Portuguese

CTE advisory board members who chose Spanish and Portuguese noted that the department has demonstrated a deep commitment to learning, from undergraduate students completing a foreign language requirement through doctoral students who are preparing to be professors. Faculty members in the department have established clear goals for student learning and a system for reflecting on those goals. Board members noted the department's use of student portfolios to evaluate learning. The department's impact on the Lawrence community through service learning was also recognized.

Department Portfolio

Chancellor Hemenway joins the Department of Spanish & Portuguese at the 2007 Department Excellence in Teaching Award presentation.

Fall 2006 Recipient

Department of Mechanical Engineering

At the 2006 KU Summit, the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be honored with the CTE Departmental Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

CTE advisory board members who chose mechanical engineering noted the exemplary way that the department uses multiple, converging measures of learning. These include a capstone course for seniors, a senior project that is reviewed by faculty members, and connections with the engineering community for feedback on the performance of mechanical engineering graduates in the field. Based on what their measures indicated about strengths and weaknesses in students’ understanding, the department modified courses to improve student performance and demonstrated that improvement. Two other notable activities are its development of writing across the curriculum and economics across the curriculum.

Chancellor Hemenway surprises Mechanical Engineering faculty members with news of their receipt of the 2006 DAETL.

Fall 2005 Recipient

Department of Communication Studies

At the 2005 KU Summit, the Department of Communication Studies was honored with the CTE Department Excellence in Teaching Award.

The portfolio submitted by Communication Studies demonstrated exemplary collaboration, reflection, and innovation. In the last two years, they have undertaken four initiatives: faculty retreats on teaching and learning for undergraduate and graduate students, supplementing internal program reviews with external assessment of department teaching, revising their extensive GTA preparation program, and supporting student organizations and undergraduate programs. These initiatives have resulted in a range of outcomes, including a new comprehensive introductory course, two seminars to enhance professional writing by graduate students, and curriculum reviews at bi-monthly faculty meetings. Their collaboration has resulted in a systematic plan to build community around the intellectual work in teaching.

Chancellor Hemenway presents the 2005 Department Excellence in Teaching Award to the Department of Communication Studies.

For information about all recipients Department Teaching Award (2002 - 2006), check here.