0 - Mycological Society of America

- -
IOWA STATE
UNIVERSITY
September 25, 1984
TO: MSA Membership
FROM: Teaching Comni ttee, Mycological Society of America
Lois H. Tiffany, Chair, 1983-1984
Bcs\cy Hall
Amcs. Iowa 5001 1
Tr'lcphons: 5 15-20-1-3522
SUBJECT: Guidelines for administering the Wm. A. Weston 'Award for Outstanding Teacher of
Mycology .
1. The William A. Weston award for excellence in the teaching of mycology is usually
awarded annually by the Mycological Society of America (MSA) to a person selected by the
teaching committee. However, if none of the nominees meet the standards of excellence
acceptable to the committee, an award need not be made.
2. Awardee preference should be given to active teachers of either graduate or undergrad-
uate courses in mycology. No preference should be made according to candidates age, sex,
or type of institution (e. g., 1 i beral arts college, agricultural school, medical school,
junior col lege) .
3. A nominee's folder should be made up by a responsible qua1 i fied person who knows the
nominee and the award requirements. The nominator or person designated by the MSA
Teaching Cornnittee chair in consultation with the committee, the nominee, and the nomi-
nator should prepare the nomi nees folder.
4. A nominators folder should contain the following:
a. Current vita, including courses taught in mycology, plant pathology and related
areas. (To be supplied by the nominee.)
b. A list of graduate students with their research (thesis) topics, degrees and dates,
publication of theses, and current addresses. (To be supplied by the nominee. )
c. A list of publications related to the teaching of mycology; textbooks; teaching
seminars, symposi a or workshops gi ven by the nomi nee to either 1 ay or academic groups ;
and national, regional, state or local committees, panels, etc. on teaching. (To be
supplied by the nominee. )
d. A statement from the nominee on teaching philosophy, i.e., what the nominee personally
be1 ieves it takes to make an excel1 ent teacher and what the candidate is trying to
accompl ish in teaching mycology and how various teaching techniques and strategies
help to accomplish this goal.
e. A list of previous awards or recognition for outstanding teaching. (To be supplied
by the nomi nee. )
f. Evaluation of the nominee's teaching. (To be completed by the folder compiler. )
This section should contain: solicited and unsolicited 1 etters from students and
colleagues who have taken or audited the nominee's courses; course evaluation forms;
and any other information documenting teaching excellence. Letters of evaluation
should address the nominee's interest in teaching enthusiasm for the subject,
special attributes, innovative and/or special techniques, abi 1 i ty to clearly present