GBHEM Announces a New Award for Faculty Improving Students’ First-Year College Experiences

The Division of Higher Education at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) today announced the new Cutting-Edge Curriculum Award for faculty at United Methodist-related colleges and universities. The inaugural award will spotlight faculty who have developed engaging courses that provide a meaningful first-year experience to shape incoming students’ college careers as well as provide valuable training on how to succeed as a college student.

As a center for leadership formation and development, the award supports GBHEM’s ongoing work to elevate exceptional faculty and support their work to nurture new leaders through education. The Cutting-Edge Curriculum Award will launch this academic school year (2017-2018) with a deadline for application on February 23, 2018.

Full-time and part-time faculty at United Methodist institutions are encouraged to apply. Awards will be given to 10 faculty winners. Two faculty members will receive a $4,000 award and eight faculty members will receive a $1,500 award. Applications will be judged based on the uniqueness of the course topic, structure, alignment between outcomes and course syllabus and the impact expressed in various student testimonials. The ten winners will be notified by April 23, 2018.

With a wide range of courses available to students at United Methodist colleges and universities, each year the Cutting-Edge Curriculum Award will focus on a select topic to target faculty members in different areas. Through this award, GBHEM seeks to promote these unique courses, the impact on an institution’s health, and the dedicated faculty members within our network who lead by example. Please contact SCU@gbhem.org for additional information or questions.

With the rollout of the Cutting-Edge Curriculum Award, GBHEM will no longer provide a financial reward for the Exemplary Teacher or Scholar Teacher of the Year awards. However, the awards will continue to operate and accept nominations on an annual basis. Recognition will still be given to recipients of these awards and their schools.

Finalists for this award can be found here.

To learn more about GBHEM, visit GBHEM.org.

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.