1. Outstanding Professor Award Committee Presents:
Getting that Award You Deserve!

2. Created by Leah Brew, 2012-2016 Chair OPA Committee
With The Full OPA Committee

3. Objectives To discuss the types of awards available for application.
To provide a framework for submitting an application.
To inform applicants of the level of contribution of previous winners.

4. Types of Awards Outstanding Lecturer Award (UPS 295.000)
Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance Award (FLCGA; UPS )
The Carol Barnes Excellence in Teaching Award (UPS )
L. Donald Shields Excellence in Scholarship and Creativity Award (UPS )
Outstanding Professor Award (OPA; UPS )

5. Letters of Recommendation
Dated within a year of submission
One is written by Chair, Program Coordinator, Dean or other Administrator. It addresses how the applicant compares to others within the department (objective data is helpful) [Required]
Additional letters, which may include the following:
Letters from Departmental and/or University colleagues for teaching and service activities.
Letter(s) from students and alumni for teaching activities.
Letters from colleagues from CSUF and/or other institutions for Research/Creative activities.

6. Narratives Clearly address each of the criteria for the award
Provide some objective data, not just opinions about yourself
Compare yourself to the “average” person in your department or profession
Demonstrate the overall contribution of your work rather than teaching us about the work you do
Remember you are educating the committee about your contribution within the context of your field.
Use non-technical language assuming the OPA committee knows nothing about what is normal in your area.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST MISSED AREA OF MANY APPLICATIONS.
Keep it succinct; 1000 words is usually adequate.

7. Notes:
The OPA committee focuses on a record of sustained achievement at CSUF, with emphasis on most recent years.
Hard copies of books, CDs, or other materials are not necessary to submit. Instead make a strong case using your narrative and the letters of recommendation.
The committee spends from 30 to 60 minutes per notebook. It helps your case when you present your information in a concise and compelling manner.

8. Demonstrating Teaching
Use one wide table to provide the following for all semesters covered by the award. Use these column headings across the top:
Semester and year
Classes taught
Enrollments
SOQ summary data
Department SOQ averages or range expectations
Grade distribution and
Grade Distribution department averages or range expectations [If this is not applicable, provide information about the quality of your students’ learning.]

9. Demonstrating Teaching
It may be appropriate to include your impact as an instructor – whether teaching a variety of sections in your department or teaching large sections
Other contributions must be included beyond teaching such as advising, developing curriculum, making major changes to the program, mentoring, or publishing/presenting with students. A single course change or adding a HIP to one class is not enough to be competitive
Any contributions beyond the normal course load should be noted as such (i.e., advising an active student organization and not getting release time for it)

10. Semester
Course
# Students A B C D F
Course GPA
Dept GPA
Avg
Course SOQ
Dept SOQ Avg
Fall 2016
PHIL 315 35 4 15 10 6
2.49
2.70
3.20
3.30
PHIL 102 63 9 
13 
20 
12 
2.02 
 2.70
3.38 
 3.30
Fall
Summer
Spring

11. Teaching winners…
Have a comprehensive table of SOQ data and information about how it compares to others
Have objective information and/or opinions about the quality and rigor of teaching in letters written by someone who can compare you to others in your field/department
Usually have been involved in advising, mentoring, and helping students become successful for the next step in their careers (i.e. graduate school or established in their careers as successful professionals)
Usually have made major curricular contributions such as establishing or significantly modifying multiple courses or new programs

12. Teaching winners…
Sometimes have engaged students in research leading to publications, presentations at conferences, or awards
For the Barnes award, have service activities to improve student success
For the Lecturer award, have made contributions beyond classroom instruction

13. Service winners…
Have a variety of contributions at many levels (Department, College, and University) to the university or CSU system
Have taken leadership roles in several meaningful activities
Demonstrate how impactful their contributions were, are, and continue to be
Have letters of recommendation that speak to not only their contributions but also to their character as being good leaders
Demonstrate contributions over time and continue to contribute up until the time of application

14. Research/Creative Activities winners…
Must be tenured or tenure-track, who have been at CSUF for at least 5 years.
Demonstrate contributions during the time at CSUF using non-technical language. Instead of teaching the committee about the field, provide evidence of contribution to the field.
Demonstrate how the work is outstanding compared to others at CSUF and in the field.
Include internal and external letters of recommendation and also include awards from the field to provide evidence of impact of work.
Provide information on how students are included and are positively impacted by contributions.

15. OPA winners…
Clearly demonstrate their strengths in all three areas through external letters of recommendations, awards, or other areas:
Teaching is demonstrated by SOQs, rigor or focus on learning, and contributions outside the classroom for student development
Services to the campus and larger community or profession should be demonstrated
Research or creative achievements are beyond the average faculty member within the applicant’s field and department

16. OPA winners… Have most contributions while at CSUF
Usually have a line of inquiry that runs through teaching, most service activities, and scholarly/creative activities. The work seems clearly interconnected
Sometimes have been awarded grants that contribute to their projects and help students participate actively with some product at the end (productions, publications, presentations, awards, etc.)
Often have made an impactful contribution that is clearly demonstrated to their profession while showing a passion for student learning

17. Questions?