TEXAS TECH DEPARTMENT HONORED FOR “TEACHING CULTURE”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 3, 2005
CONTACT: Cory Chandler, cory.chandler@ttu.edu

LUBBOCK – The Texas Tech University Department of Agricultural Education and Communications won the University’s Teaching Academy Departmental Excellence in Teaching Award this year. The award is presented in recognition of a department or comparable academic unit that has made unique and significant contributions to the university’s teaching mission.

It carries a $25,000 prize to be used for the enhancement of teaching in any way the department determines. The general criterion for the award is the existence of a “teaching culture,” which reflects commitment to the students, makes teaching a high departmental priority and facilitates teaching excellence throughout the department.

“I am just delighted that we received the award,” said Matt Baker, chairman of the department. “We had some stiff competition this year.”

Baker said the department intends to either use the money to create a teaching endowment or invest it in faculty development and laptop computers for student interns. This would allow the department to communicate with interns in places like Austin or Washington, D.C., via video conferencing.

Texas Tech will recognize the department at its Faculty Honors Convocation at 3:30 p.m., April 12, in the Human Sciences Building room 169. An additional Teaching Academy luncheon honoring the department will be announced.

The Teaching Academy was formally inaugurated in 1997 to demonstrate, support, promote and recognize teaching excellence at Texas Tech University.

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CONTACT: Matt Baker, chairman of the Department of Agricultural Education, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2816