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Award Description

This award will be presented to an individual or team that has enhanced the »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ teaching and learning environment through excellence in education for equity. The award may be withheld if there is no suitable candidate.

Criteria

Both nominators and evaluators should consider the following possible suggested initiatives. Nominees should provide evidence of excellence in equity education through at least one initiative, which can include but is not limited to:

• Developing innovative curricula or cross-cultural competencies to support all students' success by increasing students' awareness and understanding of historic and ongoing barriers, disadvantages, and harm experienced by many students.
• Creating safer and accountable spaces through innovative and culturally responsive pedagogies, that centre equity and meaningful inter-group learning.
• Creating and implementing innovative pedagogical approaches that address and mitigate the structural and social barriers that disadvantage equity-denied students, from, for example, Indigenous, African Nova Scotian and Black, international, 2SLGBTQA+++, and/or (dis)ability communities.
• Developing programs or courses that provide course materials and pedagogical approaches from diverse perspectives and world views.
• Developing authentic and meaningful inter-cultural learning experiences (including research or
• workplace experiences).
• Developing innovative and transformative inter-cultural experiences for students in the classroom.

This award shall normally be awarded once to any single initiative but may be awarded more than once to a specific individual or team over the course of their career at »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥.

To be eligible, the award package must be complete and, at a minimum, meet the criteria for the award.

Submission packages are required to use 12 pt. and 1-inch margins.

1. Letter of nomination (max. 1,000 words or 2 pages)
2. The nominee(s) abbreviated CV(s) (individual CV: 4,000 words or team CV: max. 2,000 words per member)
3. Description of the initiative(s) in education for equity (max. 2,500 words)
4. Letters of support (max. 1 page)
   • Two letters of support from current and/or former students*
   • Two letters of support from colleagues
5. Additional supporting materials (e.g., course descriptions, relevant publications or presentations, written comments from Student Learning Experience Questionnaire, student recruitment and retention data, student work, additional letters of support, etc.) (max. 10 pages) 
6. 150-word biography of nominee (to be used for communication purposes should the nominee be selected to receive the award)

Nominators should inform nominees of their nomination, providing nominees with enough time to write and compile the sections of the award file that must be written by the nominee. Nominators should collect and collate all required materials including those written by the nominee and the letters of supports to ensure confidentiality. The nominator is responsible for submitting the award nomination package on or before the deadline. In the case of self-nominations, the self-nominator should seek a colleague to request, collect and submit letters of support on their behalf to ensure confidentiality. This colleague shall submit the letters as a separate electronic file to the Centre for Learning and Teaching.

*Students writing letters of support shall provide a reflection (in writing, video, podcast, or other creative format of their choice) that highlights why they believe the nominee is a strong candidate for this award, specifically keeping the guiding principles in mind. The Award Committee values concise presentation (1 page for written letter or approx. 2 minutes for video/podcast).

Submission of Nomination

Full nomination packages must be submitted as a singular PDF using the  [login required].

Deadline to nominate is Monday, March 2, 2026.

Selection Committee

• Faculty Senator (elected by SLTC) – who shall chair the committee
• Executive Director, CLT (or designate)
• »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥â€™s Advisor for Human Rights and Equity
• (1) Dean or Associate Dean Academic – appointed annually
• (2) Faculty Representatives – appointed annually (from the pool of previous winners, where possible)
• (1) Student Representative – appointed annually in consultation with the DSU