GSAS Graduate Student Council Graduate Teaching Award - How to Apply

Award Types

This spring, the GSC will grant two Graduate Student Teaching Awards ($1000). As of 2022, we are proud to announce an additional category which honors graduate student instructors and teaching assistants that best incorporate anti-racist teaching practices into their teaching ($1000). Please review the following rubrics as you make your application.

Both Graduate Instructors and Teaching Assistants are eligible to apply. The GSC understands that teaching designations sometimes vary across departments. If you are unsure if you qualify, please contact the GSC at [email protected].

Application Timeline

Opens: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Closes: Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Eligibility

  • Applicant must be a matriculated GSAS student in good academic standing.
  • Applicants must have experience as a Teaching Assistant or Course Instructor for undergraduate or graduate students at Fordham for two full semesters prior to the application deadline. Semesters need not be consecutive.
  • Award recipients must be willing to serve as a future Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award review committee member.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed in a timely manner following the submission deadline by a committee of graduate students, with representation from each of the four academic divisions (i.e., humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs). Committee members will review and score each application individually, after which the committee will convene to discuss applicant rankings and select final award recipients. In extenuating circumstances in which the committee cannot reach consensus among top applications, the committee may request to observe finalists’ teaching directly via either video submission or live observations. Award decisions will be communicated to applicants via email by the end of the spring semester.

Application Components

Please note: All uploaded documentation must be submitted in PDF form.

  1. Online application form
  2. Statement of teaching philosophy (2 - 3 double-spaced pages)
    • Successful submissions will be written clearly; provide compelling evidence of effective teaching activities, strategies for engagement, and mentoring; demonstrate a high level pedagogical introspection, and demonstrate understanding of and flexibility in relation to varying student abilities and backgrounds and varying course content.
  3. Course evaluation (SEEQ) scores from the most recent two teaching semesters
    • It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange to have SEEQ sent. Contact Glenn Hendler, Interim Associate Dean, FAS, at [email protected] and request that he email your SEEQ from the most recent two teaching semesters to the GSC at [email protected].
    • Students who have taught more than one course per semester should submit SEEQs from all courses taught during the relevant semesters.
    • Students who do not receive SEEQ scores from their department may still apply; their applications will be evaluated with other components weighted more heavily.
  4. Curriculum vitae
    • Include examples of teaching, presentations related to teaching, and pedagogical professional development.
  5. Faculty recommendation
    • A faculty or teaching mentor’s recommendation is required and should incorporate information obtained through observation of applicant’s teaching. If applicants have not been observed teaching or wish to solicit a recommendation from a faculty member who has not observed them, they should arrange for that person to observe their instruction prior to applying for the teaching award.
    • Applicants should direct their faculty recommenders to fill out the Faculty Recommender Form by the deadline!