FCAT Excellence Awards

The Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology (FCAT) is home to a remarkable community of faculty, staff, and alumni. To honor the exceptional work of our members, we established the FCAT Excellence Awards. The FCAT Research Excellence Awards were launched in 2018, and in 2021, we expanded the awards to include Teaching, Staff, and Alumni categories, further recognizing the outstanding contributions of our community.

Nomination process

1. Prepare your supporting documentation (see criteria for each award category).
2. Complete the online nomination survey and upload any supporting documentation by October 21^st, 2024.

Normally all awards are given out annually and ties may be considered. Award recipients will be notified two weeks prior to a Faculty-wide reception in early December.

The goal of the FCAT Teaching Awards is to recognize excellence in teaching and mentorship within the Faculty.  Nominees should be those who excel at creating and utilizing innovative pedagogical models of teaching, presenting complex information and topics clearly, stimulating students to think creatively and critically, and exemplifying collegiality, professionalism and interdisciplinary respect.    

• Teaching Assistant or Tutor Marker Teaching Award – this award recognizes a teaching assistant or tutor marker who has excelled in their role during at least two terms throughout the past year.
• Sessional Instructor or Term Faculty Member Award – this award recognizes a sessional instructor or term faculty member (e.g., term lecturer, term assistant professor) who has excelled in their role during at least two terms throughout the past year.
• Early Career Teaching Award – this award recognizes a continuing faculty member who has excelled in teaching and has been at SFU for less than six years.
• Graduate Student Mentorship Award – this award recognizes a continuing faculty member who has excelled in mentorship of one or more graduate students over the past year or more. In this case mentors include:
  • research faculty supervision of graduate students
  • continuing faculty supervision/mentorship of graduate students (e.g., in a project-based program) (includes teaching and research faculty)
  • continuing faculty who conduct professional development training for graduate students (includes teaching faculty)
  • continuing faculty who support graduate student TA career development in preparation for Sessional appointments and Faculty job postings (includes teaching faculty)
• Distinguished Teaching Award – this award recognizes a continuing faculty member who has excelled in teaching and has been at SFU for six or more years while teaching a diversity of courses with a sustained record of excellent teaching and educational leadership.

Nominations can be made by one or more faculty members or graduate students or alumni graduate students from any school or program within FCAT.

Required nomination package includes:

1. A nomination letter by one or more writers that introduces the candidate to the committee and illustrates why the candidate is deserving of the award in accordance with the criteria in the award description.  
   1. The letter is the strongest part of the submission package. It must be 250-300 words including any links to external websites, SFU news stories, etc. 
   2. Nomination writer’s are asked to focus on clear examples that highlight the candidate’s excellence and to avoid general statements about the candidate and their work.
2. Up to two pages of additional support information.  

Prizes: Successful award recipients will receive up to a maximum of $1,500 funding support towards eligible professional development.

Adjudication committee: a committee will be chaired by the FCAT Associate Dean, Academic, and include UCC Chairs (or their designates) from each of FCAT’s schools and programs. 

Disclaimer: Teaching awards represent a contribution to teaching or mentorship by an FCAT member and are not considered a formal evaluation of teaching performance or effectiveness.