Faculty Awards

Annually, nearly $2 million in awards are distributed across The University of Texas at Austin. The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost administers the selection of nine university-wide teaching awards and the Sidney E. Mezes Award, which provides financial support to faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances.

Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards

The Regents' Outstanding Teaching Awards are among the largest in the nation for rewarding outstanding faculty performance. Nominees for these awards must demonstrate their commitment to teaching and sustained capability to deliver excellence to the undergraduate learning experience.

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).

The Academy of Distinguished Teachers

The 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.

President’s Associates 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.

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.

Provost's Distinguished Leadership Service Academy

The 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.

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. It is the largest undergraduate faculty award at UT Austin with an annual award of $25,000.

The William David Blunk Memorial Professorship

This recognizes a member of the faculty who has demonstrated an outstanding record both in undergraduate teaching and in concern for undergraduates as demonstrated through advising and general guidance given to students. Such concern for students should have occurred within the context of excellent scholarship and high standards of performance.

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.

Dads' Association Centennial Teaching Fellowships

Faculty members considered for appointment to these fellowships should hold regular, on-going faculty positions at UT Austin and should be actively engaged in the instruction of freshman undergraduates.

Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Endowed Excellence Award

This award is made every three years (the next award will be given in 2025). 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.

UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award

Each year the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards from the annual income of the trust fund created by former UT Austin President Dr. Sidney E. Mezes and his wife. The monetary awards provide financial support to faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity.

Faculty experiencing a hardship may self-nominate, and/or their colleagues are encouraged to submit nominations. If applicable to the nominee’s circumstances, please include in the nomination information as to how their absence from campus has created a significant loss to the department or unit. Priority will be afforded to faculty with recent emergent circumstances. To apply, nominate a colleague, or find out more about the award please email Faculty Awards. Nominations are due by Friday, March 22, 2024.

Location

MAI 201, Mailcode G1000

Mailing Address

Executive Vice President and Provost
Faculty Affairs
110 Inner Campus Drive, G1000
Austin, Texas 78701

Fax

512-475-7385