The University Faculty Awards recognizes faculty who are setting the gold standard
for teaching, research and creative activity at Wichita State University. The Excellence
in Teaching was established in 1964 by the University of Wichita Board of Regents,
now known as the WSU Board of Trustees, to recognize superior teaching. Over time,
additional awards with varying criteria have been established by the WSU Board of
Trustees, Academic Affairs and Research Administration.
A faculty member will only be considered for one award per year. Faculty nominated
for multiple awards should select one for which to submit a packet.
Nominees should only include materials from the most recent five years in their packets.
The CV may list older material, but the review focuses on recent accomplishments.
Incomplete packets will not be reviewed.
Preference is given to faculty who have not won an award within the last five years.
Academy for Effective Teaching Award
Established in 1996, these awards are given by WSU's Academy for Effective Teaching, a group of outstanding emeriti faculty nominated for membership by current faculty
and staff at WSU. Recipients of the AET Teaching Award are chosen through a multi-stage
process. After collecting nominations from current upper-division and graduate students,
the 10-person AET Steering Committee creates a short list of excellent teachers, each
of whom is invited to submit a teaching portfolio. On the basis of the portfolios,
the AET Steering Committee recommends winners to the Provost, who makes the final
award. Awardees who are full-time faculty receive a $2,000 addition to their base
salary beginning the following academic year; adjunct awardees receive a one-time
$2,000 award.
Faculty Awards
The university college / dean forwards the nominations for faculty awards to the Office
of the Provost.
Leadership in the Advancement in Teaching Award
Wichita State University's Board of Trustees established the Leadership in the Advancement
of Teaching Award in 1982 to recognize exemplary effort and leadership in improvement
and learning at WSU. The recipient is awarded $2,500.
The University of Wichita Board of Regents, now known as the WSU Board of Trustees,
established a corpus of $50,000 in 1964 to provide grants to recognize superior teaching.
The recipient is awarded $2,000.
This award was established in 2019 to recognize faculty who have gone above and beyond
expectations with teaching online courses. The recipient is awarded $2,000.
The Office of Academic Affairs established the Excellence in Accessibility Award
in 2018 to recognize a faculty member or instructor who has achieved excellence in
creating an accessible learning environment for all students; has exceeded the minimum
standard of accessibility in their courses; or has acted as a leader in promoting
the development of accessible learning environments across campus. All faculty and
instructors teaching at least half time are eligible to be nominated. Self-nominations
are welcome. The recipient is awarded $2,000.
Wichita State University's Board of Trustees established the Early Career Faculty
Scholars Award in 1988 to recognize faculty members who are between their third and
eighth year of service and have records of excellence in teaching performance and
substantial achievement in research and / or creative activity. The recipient receives
a one-time $2,000 award.
In 2017, the Office of Academic Affairs established this award to support the university's
strategic plan and recognize the importance of positive risk taking as a unique value
at Wichita State. The award acknowledges and rewards experiments outside the norm
in teaching, research and service. Recipients receive a one-time grant of $2,000.
In 2017, the Office of Academic Affairs established this award to support the university's
strategic plan and recognize the importance of positive risk taking as a unique value
at Wichita State. The award acknowledges and rewards experiments outside the norm
in teaching, research and service. Recipients receive a one-time grant of $2,000.
Nominations for the Excellence in Research Awards are due to the Office of Research.
Excellence in Creative Activity Award
The Excellence in Creative Activity Award, established in 1999, is given to a faculty
member who has established an exemplary record of creative activity that has brought
recognition to the University. Creative activity can include work in musical compositions,
visual arts, choreography, writing, and performance. Full-time faculty who have been
at WSU for three years are eligible. The recipient is awarded $2,500.
The Excellence in Research Award, established in 1997, recognizes a faculty member
who has established an exemplary record of research that has advanced the University's
research mission. Full-time faculty who have been at WSU for three years are eligible.
The recipient is awarded $2,500.
The Community Research Award recognizes a faculty member who has established an exemplary
and demonstrable record of scholarship extended to external constituents resulting
in significant outcome for individuals, organizations, or community in problem solving
or development. Full-time faculty who have served at WSU for at least three years
are eligible. The recipient is awarded $2,500.
The John A. See Awards began in 2014 after See donated $1 million to provide prizes
to WSU faculty and students conducting outstanding research or producing other significant
work. John A. See was director of flight test and prototype development at Boeing
until his retirement in 1985. Although not a Wichita State alumnus, he has been a
generous WSU supporter who values the importance of higher education and believes
in WSU’s commitment to growth and pioneering work. This award is administered by the College of Innovation and Design.
