UVic is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating outstanding teaching. This page outlines the pathway for faculty to progress through various levels of teaching awards, from faculty-level recognition, to institutional, regional and national awards. Teaching awards provide opportunities for educators to receive broader acknowledgment of their contributions to student learning, enhance their professional profiles, and create pathways for further leadership and mentorship opportunities in the teaching community. We encourage faculty and peers to nominate exceptional educators and self-nominations are also welcome.
Faculty Teaching Awards
UVic Faculties administer teaching awards and fellowships based on their discipline. These awards are focused on outstanding instruction, curriculum development, innovation in the classroom and others. Usually 1-2 awards are presented annually. Please visit your specific Faculty website or contact your Faculty administrator for criteria and deadlines.
REACH Teaching Awards
Faculty award recipients are encouraged to apply for our institutional REACH Teaching Awards. The highest honor at this level is the Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership, celebrating excellence in teaching and educational leadership. Eligibility requirements for each award are listed on the REACH Teaching Awards webpage.
West Coast Teaching Excellence Awards
The West Coast Teaching Excellence Award celebrates educators across British Columbia who demonstrate exceptional teaching, innovation, and impact on student learning. This award provides provincial recognition, strengthens a faculty member’s teaching profile, and underscores UVic’s commitment to excellence in learning and teaching.
If you know a colleague who should be considered for this award, please encourage them to apply. As per West Coast Teaching Excellence Award criteria, UVic may only nominate up to two instructors for this award. Interested applicants will follow a 2 -step process:
- An Internal Expression of Interest (EOI): submitted by interested applicants, with details below on what is included – by December 15, 2025
- External Submission: following acceptance in the EOI process, a complete application package is required that follows the award criteria, including a teaching dossier, CV, required letters, and appendices – by February 28, 2026*
*To allow time for institutional final review and accompanying endorsement letters to be completed, the final applicant packages from the selected nominees must be submitted to LTI by February 21st, 2026.
What does the EOI involve?
The EOI is meant to help the internal reviewers to determine which candidates will move forward as the institution’s official nominees. The two nominees selected will be invited to prepare a full submission required by the West Coast Teaching Excellence Award criteria.
As the information provided in the EOI will be used to draft UVic’s institutional nomination letter, we encourage applicants to review the external award criteria before submitting an EOI. This helps ensure alignment across the EOI, the nomination letter, and the full applicant package. This will also help inform the endorsement letters required.
To help your nominee prepare, the EOI form asks for:
- Basic applicant and nominator information
- A short teaching statement (max 500 words)
- Examples of innovative or transformative teaching practices (max 300 words)
- Description of impact on student learning or teaching culture (max 300 words)
- Evidence of impact (e.g., evaluations, letters, SoTL work)
- Self-assessment against the award criteria (teaching excellence, innovation, equity, etc.)
- Confirmation of willingness to complete the full nomination package by Feb 21
3M National Teaching Fellowship
Once a provincial (such as West Coast Teaching Award) or industry specific award has been received, instructors can be nominated for the 3M National Teaching Fellowship.
Founded in 1986 as a partnership between the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and 3M Canada, this award acknowledges educators who have made exceptional contributions to teaching and learning in Canadian post-secondary education. Up to 10 Fellows are selected annually across Canada. Fellows continue to advance teaching and learning through institutional initiatives and broader national collaborations supported by 3M Canada, STLHE, and the Council of Fellows.
Nomination process and support
We offer a similar level of support as for the West Coast Teaching Award (please see above for details). Nomination packages are usually due to STLHE by end of November. Please note that the awards have not been announced for 2026 and will be expected by the end of 2025. Additional guidance is available from previous 3M Fellows, providing valuable insight and mentorship for nominees.
Resources
Throughout the year, we offer teaching dossier workshops that support faculty at any stage of the teaching award process. These sessions provide guidance on preparing nomination materials, strengthening teaching statements, and aligning experiences with award criteria.
If you or a colleague are interested in pursuing a teaching award, contact us for more details and nomination support.
