Outstanding New Faculty Member of the Year Award

Applicants must:

• Be a current part-time or full-time faculty member at APU.
• Have joined APU during the eligibility period established for the current award cycle: December 1, 2025-December 31, 2026.
• Have taught at least four course sections.
• Meet APU standards for classroom quality and academic excellence.
• Demonstrate an outstanding contribution during their first year with the University.

Contributions may include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting student retention and course completion.
• Designing or improving courses.
• Introducing effective classroom innovations.
• Contributing to research or scholarship.
• Supporting students, colleagues or academic programs.
• Advancing the mission of the University.

Applications may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, alumni or others familiar with the faculty member’s work.

A complete application must include:

• A completed application form.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) that includes the faculty member’s scholarly publications and contributions.
• Evidence demonstrating the faculty member’s impact during their first year. Evidence should adress the following areas:
  • Student Interaction: Provide an example demonstrating how the faculty member engages with students. Examples may include assignments, individualized feedback, discussion responses or other meaningful interactions.
  • Classroom Innovation: Describe an innovation introduced by the faculty member and explain how it improved the student experience or learning environment. When applicable, include a before-and-after analysis demonstrating the effect of the change.
  • Student Success and Retention: Share an example of how the faculty member helped a student succeed in a course or supported efforts to retain a student.
  • Support of the University Mission: Explain how the faculty member has supported the University community. Examples may include helping others form meaningful connections, contributing to course development or demonstrating compassion, flexibility and professional support.
  • First-Year Contribution: Describe the faculty member’s most significant contribution during their first year at APU. Contributions may include retention efforts, course design, research, scholarship, innovation or another meaningful achievement.
• The faculty member must provide a narrative of no more than 250 words or a video of no more than two minutes explaining their teaching philosophy.
• The application must include a statement of support from the faculty member’s Department Chair, Associate Dean or Dean.

All application materials must be submitted by the published deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Applications are reviewed by the Academic Awards Committee using a standardized evaluation rubric.

The committee considers:

• Classroom quality and academic excellence.
• Meaningful interaction with students.
• Contributions to student success and retention.
• Innovation in teaching or course design.
• Scholarship, research or professional contributions.
• Support of colleagues, academic programs and the University mission.
• The significance of the faculty member’s contributions during their first year.

Following committee review, selected candidates are submitted to the University Provost for final approval.

• Applications Open: September 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
• Committee Review: February–March 2027
• Recipient Notified by: April 1, 2027
• Recognition: Commencement Weekend 2027

Recipient receives:

• Recognition during Commencement weekend.
• A crystal trophy.
• Travel and hotel accommodations in accordance with University award guidelines.
• Recognition in University communications.

Attendance at Commencement is encouraged but not required.