Events and Awards

Faculty Appreciation Week

Faculty Appreciation Week is a time honored tradition – a celebration of faculty-student relations at the university. Since 1999, the Senate of College Councils, the student governance organizations that represents students in academic affairs, has brought The University of Texas at Austin together to celebrate our world-renowned faculty members and encourage and foster student-faculty interaction on the 40 acres.

This year, Faculty Appreciation Week will include several student-run events in each of the 20 Councils, the Senate Professor of the Year Award, the Professors of the Year Reception, the President’s Reception, faculty discounts at restaurants and athletic events and 4,000 thank you letters to faculty members.

Research Week

Research Week is a campus-wide celebration of undergraduate research and creative activity. Research Week unites existing programs, events, and activities that showcase undergraduate research and creative activity. It also highlights the many research opportunities available to students.We know that undergraduate research is taking place in every college and school at UT Austin, and we know that a wealth of resources is available for undergraduates who choose to get involved in research. By coordinating a week-long event highlighting the work of these programs and students, our goal is to raise awareness of the many research opportunities available to undergraduates and to showcase the exciting research UT Austin students and faculty are doing every day.

You can find more information, including a schedule of events, a participant list, and ways to get involved at http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/researchweek/

Ready, Set, Go! College Readiness Workshop

Ready, Set, Go! is a college readiness workshop designed to help select 9th-11th grade high school students learn the steps they should be taking in high school to prepare them to get into college and how to be successful once they get in.  These students are invited to the campus for the day, and are presented with information covering a variety of topics, such as the application process, financial aid, college life and more. The information presented at this workshop is valuable to all students: those who are applying to UT and those who are applying to other colleges as well.

The Senate of College Councils and the School of Undergraduate Studies invite you to apply for this semester’s Undergraduate Research Grant.

Eligible applicants include students assisting a faculty member with a research project, as well as students conducting independent or partnered research. Applicants must be enrolled for 12 hours of coursework at The University of Texas at Austin and be considered an undergraduate student by the UT Office of the Registrar.

One winner will receive a $1,000 prize from the Senate of College Councils in order to be used toward funding of his or her research.

Professor of the Year

Senate’s Professor of the Year is an award given to one tenure or tenure-track professor at the university. The Professor of the Year should be someone who demonstrates outstanding teaching ability and a commitment to their students and the university. The professor will be selected by a selection panel and the winner will be chosen based on the quality of the responses to the questions in the application with careful consideration given to the CIS results of the nominee. The winner will receive $1,000, courtesy of the Senate of College Councils, along with other rewards.

Professor of the Month

Professor of the Month Application

Professor of the Month is an award designed to honor outstanding faculty at our university through council nominations. Each month, one tenure or tenure-track professor is chosen by the Faculty Affairs Committee. The Professor of the Month should be someone who demonstrates outstanding teaching ability and a commitment to their students and the university. The professor will be chosen based on the quality of the responses to the questions in the application with careful consideration given to the nominee’s character, classroom interactions and personal achievements.

Every month, three to four Councils are assigned to be a part of that month’s round of nominations. Applications are usually due on the third week of each month. We know your college has many outstanding faculty, and our committee looks forward to reviewing your application. Please e-mail your application to Faculty Affairs Committee co-chair Becky Pickert at beckypickert@yahoo.com.