Eligibility

All faculty who are defined as Employees in Mount Royal's faculty collective agreement are eligible for this award.

All candidates for this award must be nominated.

A nominated faculty member may apply for and be granted more than one Faculty Excellence Award in a given academic year. However, a faculty member may only apply for and be granted ONE award within EACH award category (Distinguished Faculty Awards, Teaching and Learning Awards, and Research Recognition Awards) in a given academic year.

A faculty member may not be granted the same Faculty Excellence Award more than once in a lifetime. This applies to all awards in the Faculty Excellence Awards program.

Criteria

Nominees are assessed on the demonstration of excellence in one or more of the following:

• Exceptional and engaged teaching
• Mentorship
  
• Values-based approach
• Focus on inclusivity
   

Exceptional and engaged teaching

• Demonstrates a profound commitment to pedagogical excellence and innovation.
• Employs a student-centered approach that fosters critical thinking, creativity and a love for learning.
• Utilizes diverse and inclusive teaching methods that cater to the varied learning styles and needs of students.
• Contributes to curriculum development and teaching practices that reflect the dynamic nature of education in the 21st century.

Mentorship

• Demonstrates exemplary mentorship of students and colleagues, significantly contributing to their academic and professional growth.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, support and continuous learning within the university community.
  

Values-based approach

• Demonstrates a commitment to Mount Royal’s core values of transformation, belonging, boldness, inquisitiveness and authenticity, as outlined in Mount Royal’s 2023-2030 Strategic Plan.
• Integrates these values into teaching methodologies and interactions with the university community.
  

Focus on inclusivity

• Demonstrates efforts in creating an inclusive, equitable, and supportive academic environment.
• Champions diversity and inclusivity in teaching, research, and community engagement.
  

Nomination

Eligibility to nominate

Requirements

• All nominations must be seconded by a full-time or contract faculty member who is not a member of a Faculty Excellence Awards adjudication committee.
• Nominations should be accompanied by a statement that includes the reasons for the nomination (maximum 500 words). Specific reference should be made, where possible, to the nominee's qualifications relative to the criteria.
• Nominations should be submitted to the Office of the Provost and must be completed using the nomination form provided on this webpage during the nomination period.
• An mtroyal.ca email address is required to complete a nomination form. Anonymous emails or testimonials will not be accepted.

Application

Application process

1. All candidates for this award must be nominated.
2. The selection committee receives and reviews all nominations to confirm eligibility.
3. Eligible nominees are invited to apply for the award. They are supplied with detailed application instructions.
4. Applicants have approximately three to four weeks to submit their applications.
5. The selection committee reviews the applications and selects the award recipients.
6. All applicants receive a decision letter from the selection committee.
7. Award recipients are expected to be announced by mid-April.
   
   

Application package

Detailed instructions, an application form (in Google Forms) and a dossier template (in Google Docs) will be provided to nominees who are invited to apply. All application materials are to be submitted in PDF format.

The application package includes:

Dossier document (maximum seven pages):

• Cover letter that articulates how the applicant meets the chosen award criteria, including their most relevant significant achievements
• Teaching philosophy statement
• Summary of three (3) SPoT evaluations from the past three years

Additional documents:

• Current Curriculum Vitae (any CV format is accepted – an MRU CV is not required)
• Up to two (2) signed letters of support. Letters may be provided by individuals, internal or external to Mount Royal, who are familiar with the nominee’s work and contributions. Applicants are asked to refrain from requesting letters from tenurable faculty members. 
• Up to three (3) other supporting documents, if necessary (e.g., course outlines, chair and peer evaluations etc.)

Dr. Carol Armstrong

Associate Professor
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science and Technology

Through curriculum development and course redesign, Dr. Carol Armstrong, PhD, has helped shape much of the curriculum in the Department of Biology since her arrival at Mount Royal in 2010. She recently contributed to the development of the Bachelor of Science in Biology Honours program for its first intake in Fall 2024.

Carol's work is guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. She is purposeful in learning from and working alongside Indigenous Peoples, and exploring the intersection of Western and Indigenous science. For example, she collaborated with Piikani Nation Knowledge Holder Harley Bastien to develop BIOL 3201: Common Ground: Learning from the Land. In describing the impact of the course, one student wrote, “I feel like I’m bursting with questions. I feel like my eyes are finally open.”

Associate Dean Dr. Melanie Rathburn, PhD, credits Carol with pushing her students to engage in learning by analyzing, thinking critically and being descriptive. “This challenges students at the time, but they later recognize the value and skills that they develop, and I strongly believe that Carol’s pedagogical approach is what’s responsible for making biology students so successful after university.”

Dr. AnneMarie Dorland

Associate Professor
Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Social Innovation
Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

Since starting her career as a graphic designer over two decades ago, Dr. AnneMarie Dorland, PhD, has evolved into an authority on marketing, branding and design thinking-based learning.

She joined Mount Royal in 2019 and quickly earned a reputation for making a profound impact on her students, including those in the capstone course MKTG 4850: Professional Brand Studio.

Through MKTG 4850, AnneMarie not only encouraged my creativity, but helped . . . bring it to life through various creative exercises, agency/group meetings and workshops,” says Mount Royal alumnus Stan Nicastro. “Because of her, I am planning to pursue a career in branding, and until I had the chance to learn from her, that is not something I ever thought I could succeed at. She didn’t just teach me marketing, she taught me how to think creatively.”

In 2021, AnneMarie made a notable contribution to the pedagogy with Design Thinking Based Learning: A Teaching Guide, and later secured SSHRC funding for a study of design thinking and creativity.

AnneMarie's dedication extends beyond the classroom as she mentors student research assistants from across campus and drives pedagogical innovation through the development of new creativity-focused courses for both faculty and students.

Dr. Nadine Van Wyk

Assistant Professor
Department of Health and Physical Education
Faculty of Health, Community and Education

Dr. Nadine Van Wyk is an assistant professor and the Physical Literacy Program Coordinator in the Department of Health and Physical Education at Mount Royal. She believes that education has the power to develop the knowledge and skills within students to help them become contributing members of an ever-changing society.

With a focus on physical literacy, Nadine takes responsibility to review, refine and ensure that the Physical Literacy program curriculum reinforces the underpinnings of the discipline to ensure student success. And she wants everyone — from students to peers to community partners — to understand that physical literacy is more than physical activity; it includes the development of fundamental movement skills, knowledge, and attitudes essential for lifelong engagement in healthy behaviour.

As part of her nomination, a colleague remarked that, “Nadine is committed to creating and delivering an educational experience that looks to the future. She is leading the movement in physical literacy across Canada by producing research that is new and innovative, challenging the narrative on physical literacy, and sharing this with students, faculty and the community at large.”

Nadine’s goal is to create advocates for health and wellness wherever she goes. Her commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment exemplifies best practices in educational leadership.. Giuliana Harvey is an associate professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. As a leader and innovator in the program, Giuliana looks for ways to improve student outcomes by developing various pedagogical tools and techniques, such as technology-enhanced learning environments, to create inclusive and effective learning experiences.

In addition, she has played a pivotal role in revamping the curriculum in the Nursing program by integrating a focus on contemporary challenges and opportunities, such as diversity and inclusion, consistency in lab courses, enhancing clinical learning contracts, and student E-Portfolios.

Guiliana also made a significant positive impact on her students during the COVID-19 pandemic. One student remarked “Dr. Harvey’s organization and adaptability to the online learning environment was remarkable. She facilitated online classroom opportunities that continued to engage me with my peers and stimulated thought-provoking discussions despite the lack of personal connectivity. “

Giuliana’s program of research is focused on undergraduate nursing student stress and well-being. Her overarching goal is to empower students through the development of personalized stress management tools and coping mechanisms.

Her commitment to student success and ability to integrate cutting-edge scholarly work into nursing education makes Guiliana a deserving recipient of this award.