[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/SMiller09.jpg” caption=”Stefania Miller, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, was presented a Lifetime Teaching Achievement Award. Photo courtesy of political science. “]Students were given the chance to honour their favourite professors recently at the 2009 MSU Teaching Awards Night.

Given on behalf of all full-time undergraduate students, the awards are designed to recognize and encourage excellence in teaching. Faculty Awards, as well as Merit and Lifetime Achievement Awards were given out at the ceremony.

Faculty Award recipients include Alan Chen, Nick Bontis, Dmitri Malakhov, Wendy Schrobilgen, Marc Ouellette, Krista Madsen Baker, Pippa Lock, Anju Joshi, John Colarusso, Patangi Rangachari and Ruth Chen. The Merit Award, given to new instructors, went to Felicia Velcu and the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Stefania Miller.

“It's a really great way to recognize instructors,” said Andrea Kong, MSU vice-president (administration). “Without professors who truly care about our education, our experience at McMaster would not nearly be the same.”

Each semester, a one week nomination period is held during which students have the opportunity to nominate a deserving professor for a Faculty Award. Once the top two nominees from each faculty have been selected, evaluation forms are distributed in class to get a thorough, student based assessment of the instructor's ability. The winner is selected based on the highest average score on these evaluation forms.

Merit and Lifetime Achievement Award winners are selected based on detailed applications submitted by instructors. The applications are evaluated by at least three Teaching Awards Committee members and are based on their contributions to McMaster student life, McMaster academia and the greater community.