University Exemplary Department or Program Award
The University Exemplary Department or Program Award recognizes the work of departments and programs that maintain exemplary teaching and learning environments for students and faculty. With this award, the university publicly honors the collaborative efforts and successes of a group of dedicated colleagues - actively performing work that is essential for sustaining a truly excellent academic environment. The University Exemplary Department or Program Awards are given in recognition that the academic excellence of individuals is achieved within distinctive working and learning environments to which many individuals contribute in essential ways.
A total of $40,000 will be available for awards to the department(s) and/or program(s) as to be determined by the selection committee drawn from the university community.
The awards program was established as a part of the university's Faculty Rewards Project, a project which seeks to clarify the expectations of faculty and define appropriate rewards for accomplishments.
Award Theme
Each year, the University Exemplary Department or Program Award focuses on a different theme. For 2026, departments and/or programs will be recognized for developing and implementing scalable best practices in experiential learning to support student professional skills and postgraduate success. This award is designed to recognize departments and programs that implement and support scalable, high-impact experiential learning practices designed to prepare students for success in evolving career paths and postgraduate experiences. Nominations could highlight how programs support student professional skills and readiness through activities such as internships, service learning, study abroad, undergraduate research, industry partnerships, or other forms of work-based or applied learning models. Graduate and/or undergraduate level submissions are welcome.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the University Exemplary Department or Program Award, the nominated department or program must 1) have teaching and learning as a primary purpose and 2) identify as a “department” (i.e., academic department or school) or “program” (i.e., an academic program) housed within one of the ten academic colleges.
Nomination Materials
Nominations are invited from students, faculty, or others who have benefited from the work of the nominated department(s) or program(s). Nomination packets must include the two items listed below.
- A nomination letter addressing the following:
- What types of experiential learning opportunities does your department or program facilitate and support to promote/enhance/aid in student professional development and career readiness?
- How has your department or program worked to scale and integrate these experiential learning opportunities across the curriculum?
- What strategies does your department or program use to promote access to experiential learning for all of your students?
- How does your department or program evaluate the impact of experiential learning on student outcomes, including career readiness, civic engagement, or postgraduate success?
- How will your department or program sustain and continue to innovate in its scalable experiential learning practices that support post graduate success and career readiness?
- Letters of support from current and former faculty, students, administrators, agencies, and other beneficiaries, focused on the achievements of the department or program relative to this year's theme.
Nomination packets must be uploaded to an online nomination form as a single PDF file, not to exceed 10 pages. The nomination packets must also be formatted in 12-point Arial font with 1” borders (except for the letters of support).
The call for nominations will open in August, 2026.
If you have questions about the University Exemplary Department or Program Award, please email the Center for Excellence for Teaching and Learning at teaching@vt.edu.