Research and Creative Activities

Excellence in Undergraduate Research

Bibek Chand, Political Science & International Affairs

Jessy Patterson, Biology

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 

Katherine Rohrer, History

Previous Research and Creative Activities Award Recipients

The award committee will look for persuasive evidence that nominees have:

• Engaged in the systematic examination of issues about student learning and instructional conditions which promote the learning, building on previous scholarship.
• Demonstrated how research findings have impacted their teaching practice.
• Engages in scholarship that is public, peer reviewed and critiqued. Journals and conferences should be recognized within discipline and/or SoTL.
• Produced scholarly work which contributes new questions and knowledge about teaching and learning.
• Developed a well-articulated teaching philosophy that drives research questions.
• Documented the dissemination of their scholarship through an annotated bibliography which summarizes a problem or questions, methodology, and results.
• Served in a formal or informal leadership role -- which can include mentoring others, leading workshops or learning communities, advancing SoTL through journal or conference service -- to promote and support SoTL on their campus or beyond.

Nomination portfolios should not exceed 15 pages, including any supporting materials (1" margins, minimum, 12-point font for each section below). To ensure a focused presentation, nominees should select the most compelling and relevant evidence. Each portfolio submission must include the following components:

1. A Table of Contents for the portfolio. Note the TOC does not count toward the 15-page limit.
2. A teaching philosophy narrative that outlines how their research questions and the related goals, theories, and methods of their scholarship activities support their teaching philosophy (1-2 pages).
3. Data/evidence of the impact of their teaching techniques/pedagogies on student learning and its potential impact on teaching and learning in the discipline. This should include annotated bibliography which summarizes, for each study, the problem or question under investigation, methodology, and results (3+ pages -- this section should be the bulk of the portfolio).
4. Overview of how they have supported or promoted SoTL beyond their own individual research. This could be locally or more broadly, and can include formal and informal activities such as mentoring, workshops, or learning communities.
5. A condensed curriculum vitae that includes relevant SoTL presentations, articles and/or publications (2-3 pages).
6. Optional: One letter of support from a colleague qualified to comment on the value and quality of the nominee's scholarship of teaching and learning activities, and its impact in improving undergraduate/graduate education. This letter should describe how the nominee's activities have contributed knowledge in the field and how it has enhanced the learning of students (1-2 pages).

Deadline for Nominations

The award nomination material must be submitted by Monday, April 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

Complete the Distinguished Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award application.

A faculty review panel will evaluate the completed applications and select this year's recipient. The winning mentor will receive a $500 award that will fund student or faculty travel to present their research or creative activities during the 2025-2026 academic year. Additionally, the review panel will award up to three certificates of merit for other outstanding faculty mentors. Please direct any questions or comments to CURCA@ung.edu.

Deadline for Nominations

The award nomination material must be submitted by April 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

To submit an application for these awards, please use your UNG LOGIN to access the Research Administrator's Internal University Awards and External Grant Funding nominations site.

This application must include the following documents:

1. Nomination letter from faculty member’s colleague or supervisor that highlights research contributions on teaching and learning. (1-2 pages, 1” margins, minimum 12-point font)
2. A teaching philosophy statement that outlines how research questions and the related goals, theories, and methods of their scholarship activities support their teaching philosophy. References to their presented, published, or in-progress works are encouraged. (3-5 pages, 1” margins, minimum 12-point font)
3. Artifact of SoTL: Published or presented article, book chapter, poster, etc.
4. A condensed curriculum vitae that includes relevant SOTL presentations and/or publications. (2-3 pages, 1” margins, minimum 12-point font)
5. One or two letters of support from colleagues qualified to comment on the value and quality of the nominee’s scholarship of teaching and learning activities, and its impact in improving undergraduate/graduate education.

Deadline for Nominations

The award nomination material must be submitted by Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. 

Complete the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award application.