Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award

Eligibility Criteria

The Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award recognizes teaching excellence for graduate students who are currently teaching or have taught in the spring or summer terms of the previous academic year. Applicants must be members of STP and may joint STP at any time.

First-time applicants who do not receive an award will be contacted by the Chair of the committee during the following fall, at which time they may opt to have their applications rolled over to the next award year. If, at this time, applicants no longer fall into the “graduate student” category, they may choose to (a) withdraw their materials or (b) update their materials and re-submit them in another category (e.g., Jane S. Halonen Award, Robert S. Daniel Award).

Award Criteria

The Wilbert J. McKeachie Teaching Excellence Award is based on the following four criteria: (1) demonstrated influence in interesting students in the field of psychology, (2) development of effective teaching methods and/or teaching materials, (3) outstanding performance as a classroom teacher, and (4) concerns with professional identity as a teacher of psychology. Each criterion is accompanied below with suggestions for supporting evidence. Applicants will not be expected to have achieved recognition in all four criteria.

a)    papers or projects completed by students;
b)    activities, both curricular and co-curricular, intended to increase student interest and
c)     involvement in psychology;
d)    comments on student evaluations related to increased interest in the field of psychology

a)    description and sample of methods, materials, and course syllabi;
b)    evidence of successful evaluation of methods, materials, and course syllabi

a)    student evaluations (submit summaries of no more than the last 5 years; please do not include raw teaching evaluation information; please type up any handwritten comments)
b)    evaluative observations by faculty and/or peers
c)     teaching awards and/or other forms of prior recognition

a)    professional activity on or away from campus;
b)    publications or presentations on the teaching of psychology at local, regional, or national conferences;
c)     attendance at professional meetings relevant to the teaching of psychology; 
d)    memberships and/or involvement in organizations related to teaching 

Submission Instructions