Nominations are now open for the E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence award for 2008-2009. Current and former students, staff and community members are invited to nominate a full-time faculty member. This appointment is awarded on an annual basis to a faculty member at Glen Oaks Community College who exemplifies high professional standards, demonstrates excellence in teaching, and whose position as a full-time faculty member reflects upon the value of education to his or her students and the quality of education. The appointment includes a monetary award.
Some of the characteristics that reflect the teaching excellence of an individual might be:
- Makes the difficult learnable
- Is responsive to learning styles
- Creates an environment that is conducive to learning
- Motivates students to learn
- Expresses enthusiasm for learning
- Has an excellent ability to convey knowledge to students
- Encourages lifelong learning
- Challenges students to think critically
- Cares about how all are doing
- Makes connections
The recipient will be selected without any action on his or her part to enter the selection process. The individual is also not required to render substantial future services as a condition to receiving the award. The instructor receiving the “Chair for Teaching Excellence” Award will be announced in April.
The nominees for the award may be entered on a nomination form (available at the main college office and at www.glenoaks.edu) by students, staff, former students or community members. All nominations should be submitted to the President’s Office at Glen Oaks. Nominations will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009.
The E. J. Shaheen Selection Committee consists of two GOCC Foundation Members, the College President, the Dean of the College, a retired full-time GOCC faculty member, and a current GOCC student.
The E. J. Shaheen “Chair for Teaching Excellence” was initiated in 1984 after a generous donation by Mr. Eli J. Shaheen, an original member of the Glen Oaks Board of Trustees, to recognize dedicated teaching faculty at the College. Mr. Shaheen was a professor, lawyer, and a business owner who placed a high value on education. A great deal of his later life was spent promoting educational institutions that had been a part of his life or education. The library at Glen Oaks Community College is named in his honor.