Dr. Diane M. Lee contributed to the UMBC community for many years in the capacity of teacher, mentor, administrator, and friend. Throughout all of her many roles, her love for teaching and learning and her commitment to students never wavered. With this, she also understood the ways in which faculty contribute to student success. Upon her retirement from UMBC, Dr. Hrabowski announced the establishment of the Diane M. Lee Endowment for First-Year Experience to recognize the faculty who make the transition to UMBC easier for students. This endowment allows the opportunity for this award, which began in the 2020-2021 academic year.
This award was created to support and recognize instructional faculty and staff for their work with students during their year of transition to UMBC. The goal of the Teaching Award is to assist the award recipients in their ongoing work with new students with an understanding that they will share their experiences and teaching strategies with others who are also partners in ensuring that new students achieve successful outcomes academically as they engage with opportunities across campus.
This is an annual award for which individuals can be nominated or self-nominated. Please use the nomination form to submit a nomination or self-nomination.
Nominees will need to provide:
- A letter of recommendation (or self-nomination),
- A statement about their teaching philosophy with a focus on learning outcomes that enable students to find their own success as they transition to college through one of UMBC’s first-year programs which includes First-Year Seminars, Introduction to an Honors University Seminars, Transfer Seminars, Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), and/or Summer/Winter Bridge Programs.
- Optional: Names and contact information for two students who can speak to their work with new students. Post Assessments and SEEQs can also be used as support documentation as they provide student feedback.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Faculty (full-time, part-time, adjunct) and staff who have served as instructors in one of the identified first-year programs are encouraged to apply.
- Emeritus faculty and staff who participated in these programs are encouraged to apply.
The Diane M. Lee Teaching Award is conferred annually to a UMBC faculty or staff member.
The award will allocate a $1,000 stipend to the recipient. Recipients will meet with the donor virtually or in person to discuss their work with new students and will be expected to share their knowledge and expertise with other instructional faculty and staff who want to strengthen their work with new students. This will be done through small group opportunities coordinated by AETP as the office with administrative oversight for many of UMBC’s new student academic programs.
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Laila M. Shishineh
Director – Academic Engagement & Transition Programs
lailams@umbc.edu
9/26/2023