What we honor, we become
Recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarly practice, and educational leadership at every stage of an academic career is not merely symbolic—it is foundational to building a culture of academic excellence.
When a university honours teaching, it signals to faculty, students, and the wider community what it values most in academic life. Teaching awards highlight the central role of educators in shaping student success and reinforce that great teaching deserves the same recognition as research achievements, especially in undergraduate, teaching-focused universities.
At the institutional level, celebrating teaching through awards makes exemplary practice visible. It allows colleagues to learn from one another’s successes and fosters a culture where student-centred, inclusive, and accessible teaching is recognized.
Receiving a nomination from students and colleagues can be a pivotal moment in one’s career. It is recognition that one’s hard work, leadership, and dedication to teaching have been noticed. The most common response is humility, followed by the daunting task of preparing the nomination package. Yet that process itself is meaningful—it invites reflection on one’s practice, evidence of student impact, and contributions to our learning community. It is the distillation of a person’s teaching philosophy into practice.
As Chair of the Teaching Awards Committee, I am proud to see how colleagues across the university are demonstrating exemplary teaching, educational leadership, and alignment with our strategic vision. I encourage all faculty to consider nominating an outstanding colleague whose work deserves to be celebrated.
Teaching awards do more than honour individuals; they strengthen our collective identity as a university that values both teaching and research excellence. Each nomination affirms that excellence in teaching is integral to who we are and what we aspire to become. By participating in the Teaching Awards campaign, as a nominator or nominee, you help sustain a culture where teaching matters: where it is seen, celebrated, and shared.
