This award is made possible in part by support from the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.
A fund supporting the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence was created by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education in November 2013 to honor Dr. Susan S. Wood’s 40 years of service to Virginia’s Community Colleges. The Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence recognizes a VCCS faculty member who demonstrates faculty excellence, dedication to students, and academic leadership reflected throughout Dr. Wood’s extensive career. During the academic year when the Professor serves, leadership and professional development among VCCS faculty generally and new faculty in particular will be strengthened through the Professor’s participation in key activities at major VCCS faculty convenings such as the VCCS New Horizons Conference, Regional Resource Center events, and VCCS peer group conferences.
Eligibility
Individuals applying for this honor should be full-time faculty members in the VCCS whose careers reflect a history of striving for excellence, commitment and dedication to students, creative and innovative approaches to teaching, active involvement in one’s discipline, demonstrating leadership and collegiality among peers (at the college, state, and/or national levels), and reflecting continuous professional growth and development during his/her continuum of being a faculty member. The individual should be a seasoned professional who is giving back to the profession in some meaningful and demonstrable way, for example mentoring junior or adjunct faculty, engaging in research, and involving students in their work. A minimum of five years’ service to the VCCS is preferred.
Honorarium
The Susan S. Wood Professor will receive $2,500*, contingent upon participation in Professorship activities outlined herein. In addition, travel expenses in support of Professorship activities requested by the System Office, such as presentations at the VCCS New Horizons conference, Regional Resource Center events, VCCS peer group conferences, and attendance at the State Board annual meeting will be covered by the VCCS Student Success Center.
Application Process
The VCCS online application requires the following documents to be uploaded to the application:
- A letter of nomination from their college president that demonstrates the nominee’s teaching excellence
- An up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae
- Susan S. Wood Professorship signature sheet [link]
All applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EST on November 15 each year. If the due date falls on a weekend, the following Monday will serve as the due date. Applicants should note that occasionally colleges have internal deadlines for application processing for this award. Be sure to check with your college to make sure you are complying with any internal deadlines or processes.
Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence Online Application
Selection Process
Through a competitive selection process, a VCCS faculty member will be designated as the Susan S. Wood Professor. Faculty excellence, dedication to students, and academic leadership will be evident in the faculty member selected to receive this honor. The period of service for the Professorship shall be the academic year, aligning with the faculty contract start and end dates for the academic year. The application & selection process is coordinated by the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Success Center with oversight by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Programs.
Applicants will be notified of the final decision by ***. The recipient will be recognized at the New Horizons Conference.
General Provisions
- Designation as Susan S. Wood Professor shall not affect the faculty rank of the individual.
- The honorarium shall not become a part of the individual’s base salary.
Wood Professorship signature sheet