Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence

Excellence in Teaching and Support for Learning

1. Approaches to teaching and/or the support of learning that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn
2. Development of curricula, resources or services that reflect a command of the field
3. Effective assessment and feedback practices that bring about improvements in student learning, may have a focus on academic integrity or digital solutions, or any assessment and feedback strategies that bring about change
4. Innovation or leadership that has influenced and enhanced learning and teaching and/or student experience

Excellence in the Leadership, Support and Enhancement of Teaching 

1. Distinctive leadership with clear strategic and educational objectives
2. Leadership that influences, motivates and inspires others to enhance their practice

3. Development of resources or services that reflect a command of the field and a principled approach to quality learning and teaching

All applications for Stephen Cole the Elder Awards for Excellence will be assessed by a Selection Panel on the evidence provided in support of the criteria for each category.

Applicants need to address all four criteria below.

Excellence in Teaching and Support for Learning

1. Positively impacted student learning, student engagement or the overall student experience for a period of no less than three years
2. Gained recognition from colleagues, the institution, and/or the broader community
3. Shown creativity, imagination and/or innovation, irrespective of whether the approach involves traditional learning environments or technology-based developments
4. Drawn on the scholarly literature on teaching and learning to inform the development of initiatives, programs and/or practice

Excellence in the Leadership, Support and Enhancement of Teaching 

1. Positively impacted individual colleagues, school, faculty and/or the wider institution and/or community for a period of no less than three years
2. Gained recognition from colleagues, the institution, and/or the broader community
3. Shown creativity, imagination and/or innovation, distinctiveness, coherence and clarity of purpose
4. Drawn on the scholarly literature on teaching and learning leadership/mentoring to inform the development of initiatives, programs and/or practice

Excellence in HDR Supervisory Practice

1. High quality and innovative supervisory practices that support outstanding student outcomes
2. Facilitation of an exemplary student experience and support for the development of students as individuals
3. Support for the enhancement of student career development
4. Contributions to the development of excellent supervision practices within faculties or the wider University

The application must demonstrate that the contribution has been sustained for a period of no less than three years.

Please ensure you read and understand all the eligibility requirements listed below:

All categories

• Applicants may only apply for one Stephen Cole in any year, in any category.
• Applicants who have previously received a Teaching Commendation are eligible to apply for a Stephen Cole two years after receiving the Commendation. For team submissions, this includes any member of a winning team application who has contributed 40% more towards the winning application.
• Applicants who have previously received a Stephen Cole are eligible to apply for another Stephen Cole five years after receiving the award. For team submissions, this includes any member of a winning team application who has contributed 40% more towards the winning application.
• If you have been an award recipient in the past, your application will need to clearly articulate how the work being presented is sufficiently different to what was previously awarded (for both team or individual applications).
• Should an applicant apply for both a Teaching Commendation and a Stephen Cole Award in the same year, they can only be awarded one prize, and will be removed from contention from the other award type. 
• NOTE:  These award types are quite different so the same application will not be suitable for submission into both schemes.
• All applicants must have the support of a formal nomination.

Learning and Teaching categories

• Applications are invited from academic and professional staff, from all Faculties and Divisions of the University. Both individual and team applications are encouraged.
• Academic and professional staff who have been employed for a minimum of three years (full time equivalent) at the University of Adelaide, including clinical, affiliate and adjunct title holders, are eligible to apply.

HDR Supervisory Practice

• Open to staff who are registered on the University Supervisor Register and have supervised University of Adelaide HDR students for a minimum of five years (full time equivalent).
• HDR Supervisory Practice applications are restricted to applicants who are categorised as either a Mentor or Principal Supervisor A in the SCRS.

 Team Submissions

• Team submissions can only include members with a contribution of 30 per cent or higher. This means that the maximum number of team members is three.

NOTE: Unlike the Teaching Commendations all members of the team must meet the above mentioned selection criteria (length of service etc.) and must be able to demonstrate an extended period of time working with the other team members.

• See above mentioned criteria for previous award winners who are part of the team.
• The ‘team lead’ should submit the application.  This person should be the staff member with the greatest level of contribution within the team. This person will need to meet all other eligibility criteria (length of employment).
• Nominators should mention that they are nominating for the team, but note who the team lead is. Nominations for individuals cannot be accepted for team submissions.
• See notes regarding the Team Statement of Contribution.

 Important notes:

• To be deemed suitable for an award, an applicant’s behaviour or conduct must be consistent with the University’s values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery as described in the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and the Code of Conduct.
• Previous findings of misconduct, research misconduct and/or serious misconduct may be taken into account during assessment of an application where relevant.
• The University reserves the right not to award if there are any concerns regarding adherence to the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and/or the Code of Conduct.

All Stephen Cole applications require the support of a formal nomination. 

• Nominations are invited from Heads of School/Discipline/ Branch, Deputy Deans and Executive Deans. 
   
• Nominators are required to submit a brief (150 word) statement in support of their nominee. Nominators must note if their nomination is for a team or an individual.
   
• As part of the nomination process they will be asked to confirm both the applicant's excellent practice, and that the applicant adheres to the University's Values and Behaviour Framework.
   
• We encourage nominators to contact their nominee and inform them of their nomination.  Applicants will be required to indicate who their nominator is, and what their relationship is to them when they submit their application.

NOTE: Your nominator will be sent a copy of your application once submitted.

Each application for a Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching must include the following elements within the six pages:

1. Citation - 25 words.
    
2. Overview of context and contribution - 200 word (maximum).
    
3. Written statement of distinctive contribution and evidence of its impact.
    

Appendix

1. Reference list.
    
2. 2 x Letters of reference.
    
3. Supporting materials.
    
4. Curriculum Vitae.
    
5. Individual SCRS supervision dashboard (for HDR Supervisory applicants only).
    
6. Team Statement of Contribution (if applicable).

Applications should be submitted via an online form.

Applicants will need to attach their written statement as an six-page PDF document, with any additional information submitted as separate documents (instructions on the online form will guide you) by 9.00am Monday 23 September, 2024.

Receipt of all submissions will be acknowledged by email.

We encourage all applicants to send a copy of their application to their nominator prior to submission. Your nominator will be sent a final copy of your application once submitted.

Applications will be assessed against the selection criteria by a selection panel, consisting of:

• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) - Convenor
• Director, Education Quality
• Dean of Graduate Studies (or nominee)
• one Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching)
• one Deputy Dean (Research)
• one previous Stephen Cole the Elder Award recipient

Important notes:

• To be deemed suitable for an award, an applicant’s behaviour or conduct must be consistent with the University’s values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery as described in the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and the Code of Conduct.
• Previous findings of misconduct, research misconduct and/or serious misconduct may be taken into account during assessment of an application where relevant.
• The University reserves the right not to award if there are any concerns regarding adherence to the University’s Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and/or the Code of Conduct.

Each year up to five Stephen Cole awards are made.

It is anticipated that at least one award will be made in each of the three categories; however, the Selection Panel reserves the right to award in fewer than three categories should the selection criteria not be met.

All recipients will be awarded $8,000 which will be credited to a project code of their choice (consultancy funds preferred).  Prizes cannot be split, with teams required to nominate one project code for the entire amount.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome from early November. Feedback for unsuccessful applicants will be provided to assist with future applications.

Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Each year, one successful Stephen Cole applicant may also be selected to receive the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, and will be awarded an additional $2,000 in prize money.

The recipient of this award will be announced live, at the Celebration of Learning and Teaching.

All recipients will be presented with a certificate of achievement at the annual Celebration of Learning and Teaching event, which has been scheduled for Monday 18 November, 2024. 

Family and friends in addition to work colleagues are encouraged to attend this event.

A range of resources are available on the Resources for Applicants page (staff log in required) including information session recordings, previous applications, important definitions and more.

Depending on their availability, you can also be matched with a mentor (previous recipient) who can review your submission and provide editing advice. Please contact us to find out more.