Call for Nominations: 2026 MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award

ATTENTION:

Graduate Students

Nominations are being accepted for the 2026 MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award competition. This Teaching Award is very competitive, so we are looking for exceptional PhD and Master’s students with great demonstration of teaching competence and knowledge of pedagogy, innovative teaching/instructional design, effective mentoring skills, and commitment to teaching professional development as outlined in the documents here: 2026 MAGS Excellence in Teaching Award 

Nomination Process

Preselection Checklist: 

  • Evidence of Excellence in Teaching (incl. evaluations), and/or a university, departmental or other teaching award  
  • Evidence of Course Design for improved student learning (incl. objectives, course organization, content, learning activities, assessments)  
  • Evidence of Effective Student/Colleague Mentoring (various levels)  
  • Evidence of Professional Development (CCT, GTA Workshops, Dept. Workshops, Teaching Fellowships incl. Teaching Projects, etc.)  
  • Photos, video footage, etc., to demonstrate student engagement & learning to put together a 10-minute video.  

Click on the link to review the MAGS 2026 Excellence in Teaching Evaluation Criteria 

If you intend to nominate a Graduate Student who meets the criteria above, please contact Dr. Stefanie Baier at stbaier@msu.edu referring to the checklist. The Graduate School can also provide help with creating the teaching-inaction-video.  

Compilation of materials and final nominations

  1. Nominators complete nomination packets together with the nominees on or before December 22, 2025, and send these to Dr. Stefanie Baier:  stbaier@msu.edu 
  2. An Ad Hoc committee (tbd) will review the nomination packages based on the specified criteria including a 10-minute teaching-in-action video and check for completion. (See https://mags-net.org/excellence-in-teaching-award/)  
  3. One Master's and one PhD student will be selected, and nominators will be notified of the status of the applications by January 5, 2026 with comments and recommendations for any additional improvements.  
  4. The Graduate School will submit the final application packets to MAGS on January 15, 2026.  

We know there are amazing graduate educators at MSU, and we look forward to having you nominate them and enter in the award competition.

For any questions, please e-mail Dr. Stefanie Baier at stbaier@msu.edu.