Learn about the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award for faculty at UMGC.
Each year, University of Maryland Global Campus recognizes the highest teaching accomplishments by bestowing the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award to outstanding faculty members in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Another faculty recognition award—the UMGC Teaching Recognition Award—is also given to other exceptional faculty with notable teaching achievements.
The objectives of the awards are to:
- Emphasize UMGC's commitment to high-quality adult education
- Recognize faculty members who consistently show exceptional skill in promoting student learning and providing a quality education to UMGC's adult learners
- Encourage students to recognize and reward teaching excellence
- Identify a pool of talented, dedicated faculty members who can serve as faculty mentors and support other faculty development initiatives
View past Drazek Award winners in Awards and Recognition in the Prospective Students section.
Nomination Process
The nomination and selection process for faculty awards is handled by each respective UMGC division.
The nomination period follows the calendar year (January–December). Students receive periodic announcements throughout the year encouraging them to nominate faculty for UMGC's teaching awards. Once the calendar year concludes, all nominations are sent to their respective divisions.
Eligibility Criteria Definitions for the Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence and Teaching Recognition Awards
- Faculty information should only reflect activity within the school where the student made the nomination.
- Nominated faculty member must have taught for at least three (3) calendar years for any division within UMGC.
- Faculty member must have taught at least thirty (30) credit hours for any division within UMGC. Credits that were taught while the nominee was serving as a staff member or academic administrator do not apply.
- Faculty member has not previously received the Drazek Award.
- Faculty member has not received a Teaching Recognition Award within the last five years.
- Faculty member has not held a supervisory position at any time during the nomination period.
Note: If the nominee won a Teaching Recognition Award in the last five years, the nominee is eligible to win the Drazek Award only. Once a faculty member has won the Drazek Award, he or she is no longer eligible to win either the Teaching Recognition or the Drazek Award.
Selection Process and Timeline
Eligible nominees will be invited to provide additional information to continue in the selection process. Once this information has been received, selection committees for each division will begin the review process.
Each division will assemble a selection committee comprised of past Drazek Award winners and representatives from the divisions; for Stateside, Faculty Development chairs the committee. This committee will meet in early spring to review information submitted by each nominee and determine finalists and, ultimately, the recipients of the Drazek and Teaching Recognition Awards.
Award Compensation and Recognition
All award winners are announced before the spring commencement ceremonies and will be recognized during the Global Faculty Awards and Appreciation event hosted by Faculty Development.
The Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award: Winners are chosen in each region and school, and each recipient receives an honorarium of $1,000 and an engraved award.
The UMGC Teaching Recognition Awards: Winners are chosen in each region and school, and each recipient receives an honorarium of $500 and a certificate of appreciation.