Fairmont State University Faculty Awards and Faculty Grant 2023-2024: Boram Award

Leland George (2008-2009)

Kenneth Millen-Penn (2010-2011)

Sharon Smith (2011-2012)

Debra Hemler (2012-2013)

Anne L. Patterson (2013-2014)

Andreas Baur (2014 - 2015)

Elizabeth Savage (2015-2016)

T. Jean Engebretson (2016-2017)

Erica Harvey (2017-2018)

Leisa Muto (2018-2019)

Julie Reneau (2019-2020)

James Vassil (2020-2021)

Hugh Costello (2021-2022)

Robin Payne (2022-2023)

Abby Chapman (2023-2024)

Please make sure you have reviewed the eligibility, criteria, and deadline.

Please direct any questions about the awards to the Faculty Development Committee Chair Brian Blackwood bblackwood@fairmontstate.edu

The William A. Boram Teaching Award

History and Purpose

The award is intended to recognize and honor outstanding achievements, unusual dedication, or accomplishments in teaching by full-time faculty at Fairmont State University.  The Boram Award is the University's most prestigious award for teaching. The award winner will be a speaker at next fall's Convocation.

Eligibility

Full-time faculty are eligible for nomination who have not been recipients of the Boram Award during the previous five years, whose primary duties are instructional, and who have a minimum of five years of service to Fairmont State University.

Award

$1,500.00

Nomination Process

This award requires nomination by a peer or a student who is currently enrolled at Fairmont State University. They should complete and submit the electronic nomination form explaining why the faculty member deserves consideration for the award. No anonymous nominations will be accepted, however, the nominator can choose whether his/her name will be disclosed to the nominee. The committee will ask faculty members who have been named if they will consent to the nomination.

Nomination Deadline

Friday, December 1, 2023

Selection Criteria

The committee hopes to obtain from each applicant, specific information about their outstanding achievements in some or all of the following areas:

• Knowledge and use of effective, active, and engaging pedagogy  Strong candidates will regularly and extensively incorporate activities that meaningfully engage learners in their courses.
• Learner- and student-centeredness   Strong candidates will indicate their recognition that students learn differently and that students play an important role in the learning process and not just the role of passive listener.
• Equity and inclusion   All candidates should demonstrate through their course design that students learn in different ways and have important contributions to make to the learning process. Strong candidates will have acted toward creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
• Alignment between teaching and learning   Strong candidates link what they do in their courses with what they expect of students. This is reflected by consistency between their teaching philosophy, student learning expectations, course objectives, coursework (e.g. in-class activities, assignments, exams), and grading practices and priorities.
• Passion for teaching and students’ learning   Strong candidates will communicate excitement and enthusiasm for teaching and student learning.

Application Process

Those who have been nominated for the award and decide to move forward (to be considered for the award) are required to submit the following materials and agree to a recorded classroom observation.  Applications should be submitted via email to fdc@fairmontstate.edu.

1. Application Letter (1-2 pages):

• The most useful application letter is an essay and does more than merely list your accomplishments or reiterate your letters of support. The letter should make a clear and persuasive case for why the Faculty Development committee should give you this award. It should identify your strengths and talents in the areas listed under the Selection Criteria above. 

2. Two Letters of Support

• 1 peer
• 1 Dean or Department Chair

The Faculty Development Committee will review the application essay letter and the letters of support. 

3.  They will also view a recorded class session that you have submitted on or before February 23, 2024. 

The awardee will be notified prior to the Spring Faculty Awards Banquet, when the name of the recipient will be announced to the greater Fairmont State community.

Application Deadline

February 12, 2024