If y’all have been keeping an eye on the SU insta story lately, you would’ve seen all of us officers promoting our jobs (it is now less than two weeks until nominations close!) – and on my own little spree I got to answer an AMAZING question about what Runescape quest my job would be, but also got to brag about a true love of mine, which is being able to reward and recognise all those who have made my time here a joy – reps and faculty alike.

That’s why, this Valentines season, I’m encouraging y’all to show your love and nominate someone!

While the Education Awards page already has a bulletpoint list for each award, I’m v aware the Teaching Awards can be a little intimidating to sift through, so let me give you a rundown (and examples of what you might include!)

As a student, there are three awards I am gonna especially push y’all to nominate in:

• Academic Advisor
• Mary Tasker
• Director of Studies

All nominations go through one form, which you can find at the bottom of each individual criteria page, and I’ve also linked in each header.

Academic Advisor

Academic Advisor award is the ONLY award category students can solely nominate in – so your voice can really shine here! They don’t need to fit all of these, you just need to play to their strengths – so consider some things like:

• How they have specifically helped you or your advising group
• How they have made themselves accessible (do they have an open door policy? Do they check in with y’all on the regular? Do they answer emails at a speed that is almost like they have a time machine specifically for this???)
• Do they have a welcoming, supportive environment? How do they make this?
• Have they helped you make difficult but informed academic or professional guidance? Like help you cook up a killer CV, suggested a route you hadn’t even thought of before, or given you that extra push to take on something that seems difficult but integral for your own growth?
• Have they been kind, compassionate, and shown signposting so effectively you’ve had to check if they are made of wood (get it? Signpost?)
• Do they do anything you get to brag to your friends about that makes them wish they had YOUR academic advisor? From a cuppa to a cracking joke, we would love to hear about it!

Mary Tasker

This one is always met as a bit of an enigma by students and staff alike as it is not as readily descriptive as the others – but it is well worth a read into the history if you are also a bit of an archival nerd like me. But simply, the Mary Tasker award recognises excellence in teaching.

For this, theres an academic element and a student experience element,

For student experience:

• Brag about how engaging their lectures are! Even if it’s a recording, do you look forward to going?
• Do they do something especially niche or cool in their teaching style?

For academics:

• Have they authored something especially valuable in their subject like a textbook or web resource?
• Have they published anything on innovative teaching practices?
• Are they involved in wider teaching initiatives or gained grants for it?

Director of Studies

Another award named simply after the role, this award is for DoSs who support learning and teaching, and also have a positive impact on the student experience. You can think about:

• Examples of how they have helped your and/or your cohort navigate your studies, challenges, and careers – do they do “one year on” sessions? Helped y’all after a specifically disastrous exam? Just been an icon across campus?
• Have they used your input to help change your learning experience for the better? Listening to how y’all wish teaching practices, assessments, or the curriculum would change, and getting that in place?
• Have they put in new learning/teaching practices that have really shone? Collabs with other departments to give you that interdisciplinary experience? New learning strategies? Digital tools that have made your life so much easier?
• Do they seek out the student voice? How have they used this? As an academic rep, have you felt valued? As someone who isn’t an academic rep, has your lived experience been something they wanna listen to?

This weeks bonus is another little playlist – enjoy !