Penn State University

Teaching Awards Eligibility Criteria

George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching Award

  • Undergraduate teaching as a primary responsibility
  • Full-time appointment at Penn State (fixed-term or standing; term or non-term)
  • Pre-tenure, tenured, teaching or clinical faculty
  • Minimum of 3 years at Penn State teaching undergraduates full-time
  • Previous recipients are not eligible for another Atherton Award. Faculty who have previously received an Eisenhower Award, should not be put forward as an Atherton Award candidate because the faculty member has already received the university's highest award for teaching excellence.

Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching

  • Undergraduate teaching as a primary responsibility
  • Full-time appointment at Penn State (standing or non-term only)
  • Tenured
  • Minimum of 10 years at Penn State teaching undergraduates full-time
  • To be considered for an Eisenhower Award, packets must include evidence of:
    • serving as a teaching mentor for other faculty at Penn State
    • sharing teaching expertise with other faculty
    • a career-long commitment to undergraduate teaching excellence

    Previous recipients are not eligible for another Eisenhower Award.

Teaching Fellow: The Penn State Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Teaching

  • Undergraduate teaching as a primary responsibility
  • Full-time appointment at Penn State (standing or non-term only)
  • Tenured
  • Minimum of 3 years at Penn State teaching undergraduates full-time
  • Additional Alumni Association obligations
  • Previous recipients are not eligible for another Teaching Fellow Award.

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Awards Process

Penn State University