PURPOSE
To recognize outstanding teachers in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
NATURE
The recipient will receive $1,100 and a plaque. The winner will also be named to the Registry of Distinguished Teachers. All other nominees not selected as the R. M. Wade recipient will be added to the Registry of Distinguished Teachers and will receive a commemorative award.
ELIGIBILITY
Nominees must have assigned teaching FTE in the College of Agricultural Sciences at the time of nomination, with a minimum of three (3) academic years of teaching experience at Oregon State University, with major involvement in at least one (1) course per year. Example: Faculty who began teaching in the Fall of 2022 would be eligible to be nominated for this award in the 2026 award cycle (year 1 = 22/23, year 2 = 23/24, year 3 = 24/25).
Persons selected for the Registry of Distinguished Teachers may be nominated for the R. M. Wade Award in subsequent years. A person on the Registry of Distinguished Teachers may again be nominated for the same Registry after three years have elapsed. A person may receive the R. M. Wade Award only once.
The Dean, Associate Deans, Chief Operating Officer, and all other Agricultural Sciences administration personnel are not eligible to receive or contribute to the nomination for an award.
CRITERIA
Awards will be made on the following basis:
- Mastery of subject matter.
- Ability to motivate and stimulate.
- Ability to communicate.
- Innovation.
- Evidence of favorable student and peer response.
NOMINATION MATERIALS
In addition to the base nomination materials required for all awards (one (1) paragraph bio-summary, letter of nomination, and three (3) supporting letters), nomination packets must also include:
- The nomination materials should address the criteria above.
- A position description that includes FTE distribution. This may be included in the summary of the instructor and course evaluations if it is not available in the position description.
- A summary of the instructor and course evaluations.
- The supporting letters should include letters from both current or former students and faculty colleagues.
- A professional/abbreviated resume (3 pg. max.).
Complete nomination packets should be combined into one PDF document and emailed to CAS-Deans.Approval@oregonstate.edu no later than 5:00 pm on April 9, 2026. Corrections or updates to nomination packets will not be accepted after the nomination deadline.
SPONSORS
The cash award for Excellence in Teaching is sponsored by the R. M. Wade Foundation.
Registry of R. M. Wade Award for Excellence in Teaching
Registry of Distinguished Teachers