Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Purpose of the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in enhancing the teaching mission of the University. The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (OTAA) is designed to encourage and reward excellence in teaching and to recognize the contributions that graduate students make to the teaching and learning mission of Florida State University.
Please note, the OTAA was previously managed by the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE). This award has moved into CAT; please feel free to direct any questions about the nomination process to our new email address: teaching-assistants@fsu.edu.
Nominations for the Spring 2024 award are open and due January 17, 2024. Undergraduate students & faculty may submit nominations via this link: https://fsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bq4LTThVEz6XKsK
- Graduate student TAs from all FSU academic units may be nominated
- All FSU faculty/administrators, FSU staff who work closely with TAs, and FSU undergraduate students who are enrolled in classes that have TAs can submit a nomination (self-nominations or peer nominations are not allowed)
Eligibility for Award - Spring 2024 Guidelines
Although any graduate student TA may be nominated, only nominee's who meet the award criteria may compete for the award itself. It is the nominee's responsibility to ensure that they are eligible to receive the OTAA award. In order to be eligible, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Current FSU or FAMU-FSU College of Engineering degree-seeking graduate student hired as a teaching assistant (face-to-face or online) and in good academic standing.
- TA at FSU for two completed semesters, at least one of which must have been during the Spring 2023, Summer 2023, and/or Fall 2023 semesters. Please note that the Spring 2024 semester does not constitute a complete semester, as it is still in progress during the award stage.
- Previous OTAA recipients and current PIE Teaching Associates are not eligible for the award, but may be nominated.
Award Criteria
- The nominee facilitates and inspires student learning.
- The nominee shows evidence of continued improvement of teaching practice.
- The nominee engages in professional growth and leadership.
- The nominee provides evidence that they have unique qualities that set them apart as a TA.