• reward proven excellence in teaching
• support and honor faculty who successfully teach required College courses
• recognize both teaching and research as valid aspects of scholarship
• encourage and support outstanding faculty in developing their projects to share knowledge and expertise
  

Each year, a Distinguished Teaching Professor is selected to begin the three-year chair term the next academic year. Reappointment is possible, but not in successive terms. These three NEH DTPs recognize excellent undergraduate teaching in the humanities:

• Richard A. and Sarah Page Mayo Distinguished Teaching Professorship
  
• Horace W. Goldsmith Distinguished Teaching Professorship
  
• Daniels Family Distinguished Teaching Professorship

Who is eligible?

Current U.Va. associate and full professors in any humanities department who teach courses that fulfill Area Requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Why Be a DTP?

A Distinguished Teaching Professorship enables profound research on teaching, while providing opportunities to think innovatively and integrate new ideas. The award enables faculty to intensify and deepen connections between teaching to research, to share their knowledge with colleagues, and to promote interdisciplinary dialogue.   Reflection of this sort can reinvigorate one’s career, as previous chair holders note:

• For some, the award rejuvenated a taste for teaching.
• Each chair holder can pursue unique interests.
• The chair helps scholars explore individual concerns, while inherently enriching the U.Va. community.
  

There are significant financial benefits. During the chair term, each DTP receives the following:

• two additional months’ salary and a salary enhancement
• an annual $2,000 research fund from the President’s Office
• during the first two years, a reduction of one course each year 
• up to $2,000 annually to hire a graduate student assistant encouraged to work with the Teaching Resource Center
• project expenses of up to $6,000
  

What are the responsibilities?

1) Annually teach at least two humanities courses that count toward College of Arts and Sciences Area Requirements

2) Carry out one or more personal projects designed to promote productive dialogue about teaching one’s discipline and disseminate research results. For descriptions of former projects, click here. Possible projects:

• Investigating innovative teaching methods and sharing discoveries with colleagues
• Surveying comparable departments about teaching the discipline and/or designing undergraduate curricula
• Leading provocative discussions about teaching the humanities and/or liberal arts
• Spearheading efforts to develop interdisciplinary programs for the humanities
• Organizing a conference about teaching the discipline
  

3) Work with the Teaching Resource Center to share—through workshops, discussions, publications—creative and effective undergraduate teaching techniques with University humanities faculty and graduate teaching assistants.

4) Submit each year by June 30, to the Teaching Resource Center Director, a written report of the preceding year’s NEH DTP activities and expenditures.

How would I apply?

Distinguished Teaching Professors know their disciplines very well, motivate and inspire students, and actively engage students in learning.  To evaluate these criteria, the selection committee requests five (5) copies of the following documentation, except for confidential letters of recommendation, where one copy of each suffices.  Recommended maximum length: 15 pages.

• Applicant’s reflective teaching philosophy statement
• Demonstration of a dedication to improving teaching
• Applicant’s proposed project(s) as chair
• Record of experience with and interest in humanities courses within the College Area Requirements, as evidenced by course descriptions
• Evidence of teaching expertise, demonstrated by the following:
• summaries of student evaluations, including students’ comments when appropriate
• one-page letters of support from at least two students
• one-page letter(s) from at least one colleague who has observed the applicant’s teaching
• Brief curriculum vitae
• Letter of support from the departmental chair
  

The selection committee works under the auspices of the Dean of Arts and Sciences.  Send nominations and applications to Paul Kingston, Associate Dean of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in the College, Cabell Hall, PO Box 400771, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA   22904-4771.  The deadline is Tuesday, January 20, 2009.  For more information, contact the Teaching Resource Center (trc-uva@virginia.edu; 982-2815).

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