The Magister Optimus Award at West Texas A&M University recognizes and honors outstanding teaching excellence among WTAMU faculty. Nominations are reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Council and must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The nominee must not be a current member of the Faculty Advisory Council
- The nominee must be full-time teaching faculty at the time of nomination and cannot be a current administrator (defined for this award as a department head or higher)
- Self-nominations are not permitted
- Eligible nominees include full-time instructors, as well as tenured and tenure-track faculty
- The nominee must have a minimum of four years of teaching experience at WTAMU
One-page nomination letters may be submitted to a member of the Faculty Advisory Council or the President of the Faculty Advisory Council beginning January 15 of each year.
In evaluating nominees, the Faculty Advisory Council considers the following attributes as indicators of outstanding teaching. This list is intended as a guide and is neither exhaustive nor required in its entirety:
- Demonstrates mastery of their subject area
- Exhibits deep expertise and command of course content
- Actively engages in ongoing professional development and learning
- Presents material with enthusiasm and energy
- Inspires intellectual curiosity and a desire to learn in students
- Shows a commitment to lifelong learning
- Demonstrates innovation and adaptability in teaching approaches
- Maintains clear and well-organized instruction
- Employs evidence-based teaching methods
By the end of the Spring semester, the Faculty Advisory Council will review all submitted nominations and vote to nominate one individual from the pool of eligible candidates for the Magister Optimus Award, subject to final approval.