Awards, Criteria, and Nominations

University Awards of Excellence
MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing (Faculty and Staff)
Hessian Merit Awards for Excellence in Teaching for Full-time and Sessional Instructors
Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership
Zoetis Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award
Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Awards
Association of Atlantic Universities Educational Leadership Awards
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 3M Teaching Fellows
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Alan Blizzard Award
Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Christopher Knapper Lifetime Achievement Award
Online Learning Consortium Awards of Excellence
Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program Grants for Research, Teaching or Graduate Study in the United States
American Sociological Association - Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award
American Sociological Association - Jessie Bernard Award
American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication - Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication


University Awards of Excellence

UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the university. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff members.

Read more information about the awards

MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing (Faculty and Staff)

Up to three (3) prizes will be available annually for faculty and staff who have shown exceptional leadership in the development of writing among students at UPEI.

Read more information about the MacLauchlan Prizes

Hessian Merit Awards for Excellence in Teaching for Full-time and Sessional Instructors

The Hessian Merit Awards for Excellence in Teaching honour faculty members who are recognized as possessing outstanding competence in teaching. These awards publicly acknowledge individuals whose work has contributed to instructional excellence at UPEI.

Visit the UPEI Faculty Association website for more information

Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership

The Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership acknowledges those individuals who exemplify such excellence and those who contribute more generally to the improvement of the quality of university teaching at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Visit the UPEI Faculty Association website for more information

Zoetis Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award

The Zoetis Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award is awarded to a faculty member at the Atlantic Veterinary College who demonstrates excellence in teaching.

Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Awards

This award recognizes excellence in university teaching over a number of years, primarily at the undergraduate level. An individual nominated for this award will be characterized by a proven commitment to enhanced student engagement and learning, a reflective and intentional approach to teaching practices, and dedication to teaching improvement.

Read more about the nomination guidelines

Association of Atlantic Universities Educational Leadership Awards

This award recognizes sustained commitment to the improvement of university teaching by providing leadership in developing institutional structures and processes and creating an environment in which teaching excellence is valued and fostered. In adjudicating this award, the Selection Committee looks for evidence of leadership and influence that is broad, lasting, and pervasive within, and perhaps beyond, the nominee’s own institution.

Read more about the nomination guidelines

Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 3M Teaching Fellows

Nominations are solicited yearly for the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship. The community of 3M National Teaching Fellows embodies the highest ideals of teaching excellence and scholarship with a commitment to encourage and support the educational experience of every learner. The Teaching and Learning Centre helps identify potential nominees, assists in preparing the nominations, and submits them, typically in August or September.

Read more about 3M Teaching Fellow nomination guidelines

Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning

Established in 2012, the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning, sponsored by D2L (Desire2Learn), celebrates, and recognizes up to five post-secondary educators each year for their innovative approaches that promote student-centred teaching and learning.

Read more about D2L Innovation Award nomination guidelines

Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Alan Blizzard Award

The Alan Blizzard Award was established to encourage, identify, and publicly recognize those whose exemplary collaboration in teaching enhances student learning. The Award seeks to make visible and disseminate scholarship of teaching and learning, based on the values and practices of collaborative teaching. This is a biennial award that recognizes and celebrates excellence in collaborative teaching and learning in post-secondary education. While educators are encouraged to cultivate collaborative approaches to student learning, they must also be encouraged and supported to engage in collaborative teaching.

Read more about the award

Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Christopher Knapper Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2002, STLHE created this award to honour individuals who have, over their career, made significant contributions to teaching, learning and educational development in Canadian higher education.

Read more about the Christopher Knapper Lifetime Achievement Award

Online Learning Consortium Awards of Excellence

OLC recognizes members of the community twice each year on two separate award cycles – in the spring at OLC Innovate, and in the fall at OLC Accelerate.

Read more about the Online Learning Consortium Awards of Excellence 

Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program Grants for Research, Teaching or Graduate Study in the United States

Canada-U.S. Fulbright awards offer scholars in Canada and the United States a unique opportunity to explore important contemporary issues relevant to Canada and the United States and the relationship between the two countries.

Read more about the grants 

American Sociological Association - Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award 

Recognizing outstanding contributions to the teaching and scholarship of teaching in sociology, this award honours individuals who have made a significant impact on the manner in which sociology is taught at a regional, state, national, or international level.

Read more about the award 

American Sociological Association - Jessie Bernard Award

Given in recognition of scholarly work inclusive of research, teaching, mentoring, and service that has enlarged the horizons of sociology to encompass fully the role of women in society, this award is presented for significant cumulative work done throughout a professional career that demonstrates broad scholarly impact. 

Read more about the award

American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology

The ASVCP Educator Award celebrates members who make outstanding contributions to the education of others in Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Read more about the award

Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication - Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication&

Outstanding Post-Secondary Educator 

Awarded to an individual who is working as a post-secondary educator, and who has successfully developed and/or carried out transformative environmental education or communication programs, which may have included: 

  • fostering a greater understanding of ecological principles or environmental issues; 
  • fostering of environmental ethics; 
  • re-imagining curriculum to incorporate environmental and outdoor learning; 
  • developing skills; 
  • implementing environmental action projects. 

Read more about the awards