The Center for Educational Effectiveness is launching an award to recognize instructors and teaching assistants who prioritize student well-being by doing things like promoting available resources on campus and modeling healthy behaviors.

“We’re excited to positively recognize faculty members and teaching assistants who create a supportive learning environment for students,” said Shantille Connolly, a senior health promotion specialist with Student Health and Counseling Services and an organizer of the award.

Nominations for the Aggie Well-Being Champions Award are open now through Feb. 16. The award is open only to members of the College of Biological Sciences in the first round; organizers hope to expand it to more colleges and schools in the 2025-26 academic year.

Winners of the award will be able to include the honor in their merit packages to receive an additional half-step in their Step Plus advancement. The Center for Educational Effectiveness also plans to collect best practices from winners in an online library that other instructors can reference.

“Here in CBS we take great pride in advocating for and supporting all students,” said Mark Winey, dean of the College of Biological Sciences. “Participating in the inaugural cycle of this award is a terrific way for students to recognize the members of our community who have helped them the most. I look forward to congratulating this year’s recipients of the award.”

The award will encourage behavior like setting midday deadlines for assignments instead of midnight to encourage healthy sleep behavior, Connolly said. It could also reward faculty members for being open to discussing health struggles they have faced; ensuring access to all course materials and learning spaces; and using inclusive language. 

The award will recognize work in four areas:

1. Use policies and practices that promote health and well-being (e.g., set flexible assignment deadlines and make provisions for appropriate attendance flexibility)
2. Improve access to and awareness of health and well-being resources on campus (e.g., highlight health and well-being resources on campus syllabi; actively talk about utilizing campus resources during class)
3. Center diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity in all aspects of their teaching (e.g., ensuring access to all course materials and learning spaces; using inclusive language; scheduling office hours conducive to students' schedules such as evening for working students)
4. Take care of their own health and well-being (e.g., encourage and model healthy boundary setting; set communication expectations; share their own challenges and stories)

Nominations must be submitted by students. The winners — two instructors and two teaching assistants — will be chosen by a committee of undergraduates, graduate students and staff members, and will be announced in March.