Graduate Teaching Assistants make an indispensable contribution to university education: teaching in the classroom, leading seminars and tutorials, demonstrating in the laboratory, coaching, and providing feedback to students through marking papers and grading tests, to name only the most common duties. The Dalhousie President's Graduate Teaching Awards are open to all qualified graduate teaching assistants (Master's and Ph.D. candidates), including previous nominees (but not previous recipients). Up to three awards will be presented annually.

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Nomination Deadline: Monday, February 6, 2012

Documentation Deadline: Monday, February 27, 2012

Click here to download a copy of the nomination form

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Nomination Procedures

Each nomination requires support from five nominators. Nominations may be made by:

• Undergraduate students for whom the GTA has responsibility
• Faculty members
• Other GTAs
• Other members of Dalhousie University

The nomination letter (one from each nominator) must contain:

1. The name of the GTA nominee, with his/her responsibilities identified
2. The name of the nominator and his/her reasons for making the nomination

Criteria

Taking into account the fact that GTAs play different roles and face different disciplinary expectations and demands, nominees should have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to the subject and the students, displayed in any of the following ways:

• having comprehensive knowledge of subject
• being prepared for class/TA duties
• showing enthusiasm for the subject and ability to arouse student interest
• encouraging student participation
• setting high standards and motivating students to attain them
• cCommunicating effectively
• being accessible to students outside class
• being evaluated highly by students and faculty

Ideally, the nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to professional development by, for example:

• participation in workshops, conferences, and seminars on teaching or other concerns of GTAs
• development of solutions to GTA dilemmas (e.g., time management, classroom interaction, motivating students)
• involvement with the training of GTAs

It is the nominee's responsibility to forward the following documentation to the Awards selection committee:

1. a current Dalhousie academic transcript;
2. a very brief curriculum vitae (1-3 pages);
3. a 3-7 page teaching dossier (portfolio) which should include the following: a clear statement of specific responsibilities and duties as GTA, a reflective statement concerning the nominee's approach to teaching, details of participation in any activities which demonstrate commitment to teaching (e.g., relevant workshops attended);
4. student ratings of instruction from each term or, in lieu of these evaluations, a maximum of four letters in support of the GTA from undergraduate students; and
5. no more than four letters of reference, from colleagues or supervisors, commenting on the duties of the GTA at Dalhousie.