Faculty Awards

The Civitatis Award

The Civitatis Award was established in 1997 to recognize outstanding faculty citizenship. It is conferred upon a member of the faculty in recognition of dedicated and meritorious service to the University above and beyond the regular expectations of teaching, research, mentoring and service. The award is made by the President.

The Cale McDowell Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Studies 

The Cale McDowell Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Studies has been established to encourage research or innovation that improves the University of Texas at Austin’s core curriculum. The award honors Cale McDowell (BBA ’05, MPA ’06, JD ’09), one of the founders of the Academic Programs for Undergraduates and former Deputy to the Dean.  

Jean Holloway Award

The Jean Holloway Award for Excellence in Teaching was created in 1970 with an endowment from past Texas Exes president Sterling Holloway and his wife, Jean. It has been supplemented over the years by gifts from Jean’s daughter and her grandchildren. Now the award is presented annually to a teacher in the College of Liberal Arts or Natural Sciences. For more information on the Jean Holloway Award, including nomination requirements, please visit the Texas Exes award webpage. This award is presented during the fall semester.

Provost’s Distinguished Leadership Service Academy

Provost’s Distinguished Leadership Service Academy represents a formal organization of distinguished tenured and senior non-tenure track (NTT) faculty members with extraordinary achievements across their portfolios and in particular in terms of their excellence in mentoring and service to their college, the university, the state of Texas and the nation. This award is presented during the spring semester.

UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award

Each year, the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards to provide financial support for faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity.

Faculty Teaching Awards

Dads’ Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships

The Dads’ Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships acknowledges professional-track faculty members primarily engaged in freshmen instruction. The award also acknowledges innovative instructional approaches, and impactful student engagement (mentorship and advising). Fellowship holders must be on campus during their appointments. This award is presented in the spring semester.

Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship

Established in 1911, the Friar Society is the oldest and one of the most distinguished multi-disciplinary honor societies at the university. The Society awards the Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship annually to one outstanding undergraduate professor. This award is presented during the spring semester.

Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Endowed Excellence Award

This award is made every three years (the next award will be given in 2028). It is based on the belief that education involves positive change and is the aggregate of all processes by means of which a person, or groups of people, develop abilities, attitudes and other forms of behavior of positive value to the society in which they participate. This award is presented during the fall semester.

Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award

The Piper Professor Award recognizes professors for outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement and for dedication to the teaching profession. This award is presented during the fall semester.

President’s Associates Graduate Teaching Excellence Award

This award recognizes excellence in graduate student teaching. These recipients are UT Austin’s educational innovators whose commitment and performance not only teach, but inspire graduate student learners. Applications are closed. This award is presented during the fall semester.

President’s Associates Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Awards

This award recognizes excellence in undergraduate education in the core curriculum, including the signature courses. Well-qualified candidates will also have a demonstrated record of engagement with curriculum reform and educational innovation. This award is presented during the fall semester.

Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards

In November 2008, the Board of Regents launched the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards to honor exemplary educators across UT academic and health institutions. These awards highlight the value placed on exceptional teaching and serve both as recognition and motivation for those committed to student success. This award is presented during the spring semester.

The Academy of Distinguished Teachers

Academy was established to recognize and honor tenured faculty members who have made sustained and significant contributions to education, particularly at the undergraduate level, within the context of their responsibilities as a full-time faculty member. This award is presented during the fall semester.

The University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers

In 2012, the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers was established to recognize outstanding educators across the UT System academic institutions. Nominees must have received a Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (ROTA) and have tenure or equivalent rank for non-tenure-track faculty (senior lecturer and above). This award is presented during the spring semester.

The William David Blunk Memorial Professorship

This award recognizes a member of the faculty who has demonstrated an outstanding record both in teaching and in concern for students as demonstrated through advising and general guidance. Such concern for students should have occurred within the context of excellent scholarship and high standards of performance. This award is presented during the spring semester.