Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence

 This award is made possible in part by a fund through the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.

Who is Susan S. Wood?

Dr. Susan S. Wood retired as Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research in April 2014. She began her distinguished career as a charter faculty member at Reynolds Community College in August of 1973.

Purpose

A fund supporting the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence was created by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education in November 2013 to honor Dr. Susan S. Wood’s 40 years of service to Virginia’s Community Colleges. The Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence recognizes a VCCS faculty member who demonstrates faculty excellence, dedication to students, and academic leadership.

 

The Award

The Susan S. Wood Professor will receive an honorarium paid at the end of the spring semester. The honorarium shall not become a part of the individual’s base salary. Designation as Susan S. Wood Professor shall not affect the faculty rank of the individual.

 

Eligibility

Individuals applying for this honor should be full-time faculty members in the VCCS whose careers reflect a history of striving for excellence, commitment and dedication to students, creative and innovative approaches to teaching, active involvement in one’s discipline, demonstrating leadership and collegiality among peers (at the college, state, and/or national levels), and reflecting continuous professional growth and development during his/her continuum of being a faculty member. The individual should be a seasoned professional who is giving back to the profession in some meaningful and demonstrable way, for example mentoring junior or adjunct faculty, engaging in research, and involving students in their work. A minimum of five years’ service to the VCCS is preferred.

 

Selection

Through a competitive selection process, a VCCS faculty member will be designated as the Susan S. Wood Professor. Faculty excellence, dedication to students, and academic leadership will be evident in the faculty member selected to receive this honor. The application & selection process is coordinated by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Professional Development with oversight by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Programs.

 

Application Process

Applicants for the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence must submit an Online Application form, which includes the following items:

1. A letter of nomination from their college president
Demonstrates the nominee’s teaching excellence

2. Current Resume or curriculum vitae (two-page maximum)

3. History of Faculty Excellence (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how your career in the VCCS has exemplified a history of faculty excellence in teaching, research, and service.

4. Commitment and Dedication to Student Success (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how your career in the VCCS has exemplified a commitment and dedication to student success.

5. Creative and Innovative Approaches to Teaching (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how your approach to teaching has shown creativity and innovation.

6. Active Involvement in Your Discipline (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how you have maintained an active involvement in your discipline during your academic career.

7. Demonstration of Leadership and Collegiality Among Peers (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how you have demonstrated leadership and collegiality among your peers (at the college, state, and/or national levels).

8. Reflection of Continuous Professional Growth and Development (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Describe how your academic career reflects a continuous dedication to professional growth and development.

9. Additional Information (maximum 300 words/2,000 characters with spaces)
Awards & honors; professional memberships and/or certifications

10. Completed Signature sheet

 

Application Due Date and Recipient Announcement

Award applications and nomination submissions for 2022-2023 are now closed.
Award recipients and their college president will be notified confidentially prior to the public announcement during the annual New Horizons conference in the Spring.

 

Questions

For questions related to the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence, contact the VCCS Student Success Center at StudentSuccess@vccs.edu.