Teaching Awards
The University of Texas at Austin and the College of Liberal Arts recognize excellence in teaching through a number of University-wide and College-wide awards.
Nomination Process
Departments determine their own internal process for identifying candidate nominees. Nominations are submitted by the faculty candidate’s home department, unless the award allows for self-nominations or is a student-nominated award.* Nominations will also be accepted from non- departmental degree-granting units with approval of the faculty candidate’s home department chair. Faculty with equally split (50/50) appointments may be nominated by either department.
*Please note, the School for Undergraduate Studies (UGS) may nominate faculty candidates for the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Awards. Faculty candidates may be nominated by UGS without the endorsement of the home department.
Core Eligibility
A faculty member must have a continuing appointment at The University of Texas at Austin in the year subsequent to their selection.
University-Wide Teaching Awards
*COLA deadlines for AY 2025-2026 are listed
Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship (student-nominated; not open at this time)
Jean Holloway Award for Excellence in Teaching (student-nominated; not open at this time)
Joe and Bettie Branson Ward Excellence Award - (awarded every 3 years, not open at this time)
Minnie Stevens Piper Professorship - Sept. 17, 2025
Provost's Distinguished Service Academy (self-nomination submitted directly by the candidate)
President's Associates Graduate Teaching Excellence Award - Sept. 17, 2025
President's Associates Teaching Excellence Awards - Sept. 17, 2025
UT Austin Academy of Distinguished Teachers Award - Oct. 13, 2025
UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers - Oct. 13, 2025
Liberal Arts Teaching Awards
*all COLA awards have a shared deadline in the Spring 2026 semester; exact date is TBD
See previous winners of COLA teaching awards here.
Questions: Kacie Vanecek
More information about 2025-26 Teaching Awards
Teaching Awards Best Practices: contains tips for selecting candidates and compiling nomination files