Adopted by the members of the President's Teaching Scholars Program on March 1, 2021; became effective July 1, 2021; amended and implemented on March 21, 2022.
The President’s Teaching Scholars Program (PTSP) consists of a group of faculty from the four CU campuses and from a wide range of disciplines, whose work reflects excellence in teaching and research, and is led by a Council Chair elected from the membership.
1. Mission
The overarching mission of the PTSP is sharing scholarship and promoting teaching excellence across the campuses.
The mission is accomplished by 1) honoring the accomplishments and community involvement of faculty dedicated to elevating teaching excellence across the CU system; 2) raising the awareness of and elevating the value of teaching as an integral purpose of higher education; 3) developing a community of scholars spanning the four campuses through annual meetings focused on sharing teaching expertise, experience, and purpose; 4) informing university leadership about issues concerning the current and future direction of the teaching mission and providing perspective and recommendations about particular actions, topics, or policies that influence teaching across the CU system; 5) supporting initiatives and research that advance teaching excellence across disciplines, and 6) serving as a resource for the advancement of the quality of teaching and learning.
2. Membership
Designation as a President's Teaching Scholar (PTS) constitutes recognition by the University of an individual’s excellence in and active commitment to teaching and learning. Once selected, a PTS is expected to actively commit to excellence in teaching and serve as a model and mentor on their home campus.
The application process is contained in the Call for Nomination. New members are chosen by the end of the calendar year and introduced to the group by participating in the spring meeting after their selection. A financial award accompanies the honor of being selected as a PTS.
Members who are designated PTS are expected to engage in the annual activities of the PTSP, such as workshops and retreats (in-person or virtual), as permitted by other commitments. Every January, committee membership and vacancies shall be announced by emails to all members to solicit nominations and self-nominations for positions on these committees.
3. Structure and Operation
The Council Chair reports to the CU System Vice President for Academic Affairs and leads the program by presiding at meetings, promoting current research on teaching and learning within the group, promoting the PTS program across the CU system, and fostering community within the group. The Council Chair appoints members of the committees, described below, in consultation with the Council, also described below, and facilitates the member-led planning of meetings. The Council Chair also publishes the Call for Nominations, in cooperation with the Selection Committee.
Given the self-governance of PTSP, the Council Chair shall be a PTS, elected by those present at the spring meeting. The council will act as the nominating committee for the selection of the council chair and will receive nominations from any scholar. The Council Chair serves for a three-year term, commencing on July 1st; the position comes with an annual stipend and administrative support from the President’s office. A PTS cannot serve consecutive terms as Council Chair but may serve multiple times as Council Chair. The Chair can be recalled, with the concurrence of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, in response to a petition to the Vice President from ten or more PTS and following an email vote of the members.
The Council advises and supports the Council Chair on all matters that affect the PTSP. The chairs of the Meeting, Selection, and Bylaws committee serve on the Council. The Council will include additional PTS members, as needed to ensure representation from each campus: Anschutz, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, appointed by the Chair, with the concurrence of the Council. The Council nominates the Council Chair in a process outlined by the Council’s Policies and Procedures. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will establish the initial makeup of the Council, in consultation with current scholars. Expected service three-year term.
The Council also frames communication with university leadership on matters affecting the University’s teaching mission, as described in the Mission section, above, based on input from members, or in response to requests from leadership.
Committees:
There are three standing committees, the Meeting Committee (whose members may change for each meeting), the Selection Committee, and the Bylaws Committee. Any PTS is eligible to serve on any of the committees and may volunteer to fill a vacancy on them. In the event of vacancy in any of the committees, the Council Chair appoints a replacement, if possible, an individual from the campus from which the vacancy arose, for the remainder of the term. The Council Chair is an ex officio member of all committees. Members of the committees are appointed by the Council Chair, with the concurrence of the Council. Each committee has its own policies and procedures, in pursuit of the purposes specified here, and selects a chair from among its members.
The Meeting Committee creates an agenda for workshops and retreats (in-person or virtual) by establishing topics for investigation, inviting speakers and facilitators, and promoting initiatives in teaching, learning, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. The Committee typically has at least one member from each campus. The expected service commitment is a one-year term.
The Selection Committee selects new members. Selection of new members is based on a list of specific criteria stated in the annual Call for Nominations, which ensure a record of teaching and research excellence and an ongoing commitment to outstanding research. The committee typically has at least one member from each campus. The expected service commitment is a one-year term.
The Bylaws Committee considers revisions and amendments to the Bylaws. The Committee typically has at least one member from each campus. The expected service commitment is a two-year term.
4. Membership Status Changes
An individual becomes a member upon selection. They remain a member for life and retain the title "President's Teaching Scholar," unless the member (a) resigns from the University (in that case, it would be proper for the CV to state: "President's Teaching Scholar, University of Colorado [beginning date to end date]"); (b) the member is dismissed by the University under Regential Rules, Article 5, Part C (in that case, both membership and title are automatically revoked); or (c) a member decides to give up their membership and notifies the Council Chair of this decision.
If a member retires from CU in good standing, they receive the title "President's Teaching Scholar Emeritus/Emerita." No vote by the members or action by the Council or the Council Chair is required for this designation. Retired members are encouraged to remain active in the group if they so desire.
If a member has to leave the University because of program discontinuance as covered by Regent Policy 4, they receive the title "President's Teaching Scholar Emeritus/ Emerita." No vote by the members or action by the Council or the Council Chair is required for this designation. Those who become Emeriti for this reason are encouraged to remain active in the group if they so desire.
5. Amending the Bylaws
A. Proposing Amendments. Amendments may be proposed by the Council Chair, by the Council, by the Bylaws Committee, or by a group consisting of at least five (5) PTSs. Amendments shall be transmitted in writing to the Bylaws Committee at least thirty calendar days before the next retreat.
B. Transmittal to the members. The Bylaws Committee shall transmit proposed amendments, together with explanatory comments, to the whole group by e-mail at least ten business days before the next retreat.
C. At the Retreat. Proposed amendments shall be placed on the agenda for discussion at the next scheduled retreat. Proposed amendments may themselves be modified at the retreat, with guidance from Robert’s Rules of Order. A simple majority vote of those present at the retreat moves the amendment to a vote by members.
D. Voting and Ratification. The Council Chair shall submit an e-mail ballot to each member within three days after discussion at the retreat where amendments are proposed and a simple majority agrees to put them to a vote of the members. A two-thirds majority of votes received within ten business days of the ballot’s distribution shall be required for ratification. Ratified amendments shall take effect immediately upon certification of the results by the Council.
6. Call for Nominations and Selection
The Selection Committee publishes a Call for Nominations and carries out the selection of new scholars in a manner determined by that committee, subject to the following principles.
A. Eligibility. All tenured faculty members who have been employed at CU for at least five consecutive years and who have received a teaching award at the University of Colorado or from professionally recognized organizations are eligible to be nominated. Exception - Tenure-eligible faculty members on the Anschutz Medical Campus who have received a teaching award as stated above, who hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and who have been employed at CU for at least five consecutive years are eligible.
B. Financial terms. The financial terms of awards will be determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and specified by the Committee in the Call for Nominations.
C. Requirements for candidates, specified in the Call for Nominations, must be consistent with the mission of PTSP, as given above.
D. Conflict of interest. No member of the same department, no co-author, no one who has co-taught with the nominee, no relative or person in an amorous relationship with a nominee (as defined by university policy) and no one with evaluative responsibility for a nominee may discuss or vote on the dossier of a nominee.
E. Evaluation of candidates must include observation of teaching (in-person or in another manner).
F.The number of selections in a given round is determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
G. Selections are communicated to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, representing the President, and not announced by the Committee.