Award Criteria

The award recognizes the positive impact contract instructors have on students and their learning. Nominators are to describe why they think their nominee demonstrates excellence in teaching which has a positive impact on students and their learning. No description of what constitutes excellence in teaching which has a positive impact on students and their learning will be provided; this is to give the nominators a free hand to describe why they feel their nominee should receive the award; it allows for the “true voice” of the nominator.

Eligibility:

The CUPE 3908-1 Award for Excellence in Teaching may only be awarded to a member of the part-time faculty at Trent University, represented by CUPE Local 3908 - Unit 1. Eligible candidates include Course Instructors, Clinical Instructors, Academic Skills Instructors, ESL Instructors, Tutorial and Workshop Leaders, Language Assistants, and Tutors. This award can only be received once; previous recipients are ineligible for nomination. Please review the list of previous award recipients listed below. 

How to Nominate:

Nomination Window 1:  April 9-25, 2025

Nomination Window 2: December 18, 2025-January 12, 2026

To nominate an instructor, complete the online form below. The online form will be live from 8AM on the first day of each nomination window and close at 4:00PM on the final day.

» CUPE 3908-1 Award for Excellence in Teaching nomination form 

What should your nomination include? Tell the story! Complete the "Nominator Information" and the "Candidate Information" sections on the Nomination Form.

For helpful information on writing strong nominations, including exemplars, please see the Trent Teaching Commons' How to Write a Strong Nomination for a Teaching Award page.

How is the Award Determined? 

The recipient of this award is determined by the CUPE 3908-1 Teaching Award Selection Committee based solely on the information that nominators provide. The strongest nominations provide specific details about a candidate's interaction with students, providing clear examples that illustrate that highlight the skills, abilities, and attributes of the candidate that demonstrate a strong, positive impact on students and their learning.

The award has a monetary value of $750 and is accompanied by a framed certificate. The award is presented at the Celebration of Excellence in the spring. 

Timeline

April-January: Nominations are cumulatively collected during two nomination windows open during the winter and fall terms (nomination windows are listed above).

Early January: Nominations close.

Mid-January: Trent Teaching Commons prepares nomination packages.

Late-January: Collated nomination packages are circulated to the CUPE 3908-1 Teaching Award Selection Committee for review and scoring. 

Early February: Deadline for all CUPE members to submit scores to Trent Teaching Commons.

Mid-Late February: Trent Teaching Commons sends finalized shortlist to committee members.

Late February: Meeting to deliberate and decide award.

March: Award recipient, finalists and nominees are notified.

April: Recipient is awarded their certificate and prize at the annual Celebration of Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Research.

Previous Recipients

• 2024-2025 Paul Mazzocchi (Political Studies)
• 2023-2024 Sarah Ibaid (Child and Youth Studies)
• 2022-2023 Dr. Mary-Claire Buell (Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences)
• 2021-2022 Catherine Davis (Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies)
• 2020-2021 Mike Perry (School for the Study of Canada)
• 2019-2020 Derya Tarhan (International Development Studies)
• 2018-2019 Sam Grey (International Development Studies)
• 2017-2018 Troy Bordun (Sociology)
• 2016-2017 Carla Ionescu (Ancient Greek and Roman Studies)
• 2015-2016 Shirley Ida Williams nee Pheasant (Indigenous Studies)
• 2014-2015 Robyne Hanley-Dafoe (Psychology)
• 2013-2014 John Dale Purcell (Anthropology)
• 2012-2013 Martin Boyne (Modern Languages & Literatures)
• 2011-2012 Jose Miguel Garcia Ramierz (Modern Languages & Literatures)
• 2010-2011 Matthew Thompson (Chemistry)
• 2009-2010 Leigh Symonds (Anthropology)
• 2008-2009 Shaoling Wang (Modern Languages & Literatures)
• 2007-2008 Adam Stibbards (Psychology)
• 2006-2007 Brent Wood (English Literature)
• 2005-2006 Melanie Buddle (Department of History)
• 2004-2005 Fred Pulfer (School of Education & Professional Learning)
• 2003-2004 Graham Murphy (Cultural Studies & English)
• 2002-2003 Wendy Kelly (Psychology)
• 2001-2002 Jim Cosgrave (Sociology)
• 2000-2001 Jill Smith (Women's Studies)