On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Ashland University’s Academic Affairs department will be asking for nominations for the Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award. 

All full-time faculty members with at least three years of teaching experience at AU can be nominated for this award.  

Nominators are to be students, peers, and/or Department Chairs along with other faculty members.  

The Edward and Louaine Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award was established in 1997 by Mrs. and Mr. Taylor and their three children.  

Teaching has always been an important value in each of their lives and, with this award, the Taylor family continues to share their passion for teaching with faculty members at AU, annually.  

The faculty member chosen for this award must embody the following characteristics: 

• A Professor who challenges and supports students of all abilities to excel  
• A Professor who personifies “Accent on the Individual”  
• A Professor who stays current on theories and practices in both pedagogy and discipline related content.  

• A Professor who students often mention positively for classroom teaching  
• A Professor who is willing to devote time and energy to incorporate innovative practices for improved instruction in classes 

The nominees will go through a meticulous process done by this year’s committee made up of former Taylor Award Winners, Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Dr. Nick Johnson, and Professor Teresa Moorman. The nominees will also present a philosophical statement on their teaching, their teaching evaluations, and letters of support from their nominator and Department Chair. The committee will conduct unannounced classroom observations on selected nominees’ classes to get first-hand experience on what it is like to be taught by them.  

After the final input from the review committee, then the Provost, the winner of the Taylor Award will be announced at this year’s Academic Honors Convocation which will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024.