2026-2027 nomination instructions
As noted in the deadlines table, this award involves a tiered nomination process. Each academic department may nominate one master's and one doctoral student.
- Letter of support from department head/chair that addresses how the nominee fulfills award criteria, including a description of any departmental and institutional honors awarded
to the nominee for excellence in teaching (not to exceed two pages)
- Teaching portfolio
The teaching portfolio is limited to six (6) pages double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins. The use of headers to distinguish content for the sections outlined below is strongly encouraged.
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Teaching Philosophy and Practice [25 points]: Share your teaching philosophy by describing your understanding of how people learn, and how that understanding, in turn, informs what you value most as an instructor and the way you approach teaching. This explanation could include your fundamental understanding of the purpose of education, the nature of learning, and/or your role as a teacher in facilitating that learning. Please describe the instructional strategies and evidence-based practices that you utilize to support your teaching philosophy.
- Course Design [25 points]: Connecting course design to your teaching philosophy and practices, describe how you have approached instructional design in one of your courses. Focus on the main elements of instructional design (e.g. objectives, course organization, content and format, learning
activities, interaction, assessments) and provide examples from your course along with your rationale for adopting them.
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- Evidence of Effective Student/Colleague Mentoring [10 points]: Describe your experience with mentoring students outside of the classroom, whether that be related to the courses you teach or in other settings. Additionally, discuss any experience you have with mentoring your peers or colleagues in the context of teaching.
- Evidence of Professional Development [15 points]: Explain how you used professional development opportunities to grow in your teaching excellence. If appropriate, how have you aligned professional development in the feedback you have received on your teaching?
2026-2027 deadlines and timeline
Nominations will be accepted from departments August 24-September 29.
September 28 - Department nomination deadline
Each department may nominate one master's student and one doctoral student. Department nominations will be reviewed by respective colleges.
October 12 - College nomination deadline
With the exception of the College of Arts and Sciences, each college may select one master's student nominee and one doctoral student nominee. The College of Arts and Sciences may nominate three master's students and three doctoral students.
October 30 - Award selection
One master's and one doctoral student will be selected for the GSC Award for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence by a selection committee composed of graduate faculty and graduate students.
January
The GSC award recipients will serve as K-State's nominees for the MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award. Nominations for the MAGS award will be submitted by the Graduate School.
