SA/FA/Instructor Q&As

What types of UBC-V BEd awards are there?

UBC-V BEd awards can be divided into two main categories: Entrance and End-of-Year awards.

There are 7 entrance awards and about 100 end-of-year awards.

Entrance award descriptions can be found in the list of UBC-V BEd awards here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/  and are awarded based solely on GPA.  Although every entrance award may not be offered every year, they are as follows:

    • University Women’s Club Vancouver Dr. Evlyn Fenwick Farris Scholarship
    • CK Choi Scholarship in Secondary Education
    • Chitose Uchida memorial Prize
    • Michael J. Crooks Memorial Scholarship
    • University Women’s Club of Vancouver School in Education
    • Mary A. Bryant Scholarship in Education
    • Mary Anne McWaters Bursary in Medicine/Education

There are approximately 80 end-of-year awards listed  here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/ along with links to application forms and instructions. End of year awards can also be divide up into three categories:

    • Adjudicated Course/Practicum Awards
    • Outstanding Practicum Awards
    • Outstanding Community Field Experience (CFE) Awards

What is the difference between an “Adjudicated Course/Practicum Award” and an “Outstanding Practicum Award”?

Adjudicated  Course/Practicum awards usually come with financial compensation and are adjudicated by a committee composed of Faculty members from each UBC Faculty of Education Department.  Instructors and faculty advisors (FAs) are able to nominate teacher candidates (TC) for Adjudicated Course/Practicum awards, and TC’s are able to self nominate themselves for Adjudicated Course/Practicum Awards.

Outstanding Practicum Awards (and Outstanding CFE Awards) are not adjudicated by a committee and come with no financial compensation (although it does ‘pay back’ as a line on the TC’s resume).  TC’a are nominated for an outstanding practicum award by their FA only, and every TC nominated for an Outstanding Practicum Award (and Outstanding CFE Award) receives said award (unless extenuating circumstances arise). Teacher candidates cannot self nominate themselves for an outstanding practicum Award.

Who is eligible to be considered for a UBC-V BEd Award?

All BEd teacher candidates, who will be completing their certification year and who are attending the UBC-V Point Grey Campus, or a Native Indigenous Teacher Education Program  (NITEP) field centre outside of Greater Vancouver, are eligible for the UBC-V BEd awards. All nominations are entered, and information distributed through this webpage: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/

UBC Teacher candidates, who will be completing their certification year and who are attending the West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTEP), or the Rural and Remote Program (R&R) , are eligible for awards offered through through their individual programs.  Instructors or FAs for the WKTEP and R&R  programs,  do not use the award nomination forms or instructions listed at the above URL.  Instead they are encouraged to speak to their program coordinator/manager to determine their program’s awards and awards processes.

What is the application processes for entrance and end-of-year awards?

Entrance awards are  based solely on teacher candidates’ GPA, and are assigned automatically. Therefore, teacher candidates do not apply for entrance awards.

However, to be considered for an end-of-year award the teacher candidate must either be nominated by an instructor/faculty/FA or the teacher candidate must self nominate themselves (and be supported by two different instructors and/or faculty and/or FAs). Instructions for applying for an end of year award is outline here:  https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/application-process/ (and question answered below in this blog).

Where can I find the UBC-V BEd award nomination forms?

UBC-V BEd nomination forms are located here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/

What are the deadlines for submitting a nomination?

UBC-V BEd award nomination deadlines are listed here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/

The awards page says “nomination should be made at the end of each course”.  Can a faculty member (or teacher candidate) submit a nomination two months after 1st term courses have been completed?

Yes. Award nominations for any term can be submitted at any time until the UBC BEd award nomination deadlines listed here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/

How long does it take to nominate a teacher candidates for a UBC-V BEd award?

Most nominators can complete a basic award nomination in 5-10 minutes.  Strong nominations that include a well written detailed paragraph or two, may take 15-30 minutes.

Can a School Advisor nominate a teacher candidate for an award?

The only people permitted to nominate a teacher candidate for a UBC-V BEd award are the TC’s instructors, faculty advisors (e.g., secondments, sessionals, faculty) and the TCs themselves. Practicum faculty advisors are encouraged to include the school advisor’s nomination information the faculty advisor’s nomination, making it clear that the nomination is from both the faculty advisor and school advisor (or just the school advisor).

Can instructors and Faculty Advisors nominate more than one teacher candidate?

Yes! There is no limit on the number of teacher candidates an instructor and/or Faculty Advisor can nominate.

Can teacher candidates self-nominate themselves for an award?

UBC-V teacher candidates can self-nominate themselves using the form: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/forms/student-self-nomination-form/.

Are teacher candidates recommended to submit their self nomination before or after practicum?

Teacher candidates can self nominate themselves for an award at any time from Jan 1 – May 30.  Aside from submitting between these dates, there is no recommended time to submit a nomination.  Having said this, there are a handful of awards that incorporate selection criteria that focuses on both the teacher candidate’s course and practicum work (or practicum work), and the Teacher Education Office receives many of these nominations closer to the end of award submission deadline.  Moreover, many award nominations come as Winter term 2 courses are completed.

Must all self-nominations be accompanied by two supporting nominations?

Yes. A teacher candidate must also have two additional ‘supporting’ nominations submitted by two of the teacher candidate’s instructors, or one instructor and one FA. (The supporting nomination form, called the Faculty Reference Form for Self-Nominated Teacher Candidates, can be found here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/forms/faculty-reference-form/).

Should the self nominating teacher candidate choose two instructors, or one instructor and one FA, to support their self nomination?

There are three types of funded end-of-year BEd program awards:  1) performance in course work, 2) performance in practicum work, and 3) performance in both course work and practicum work. Although the exact number of awards funded from year to year varies considerably, there are approximately 30 course work awards, 10 practicum awards and 70 course/practicum awards.. If the teacher candidate feels their strengths are in their coursework, it is highly recommended that both supporting nominations come from instructors.  If they feel their strengths are in practicum work or across both course work and practicum work, it is recommended that one supporting nomination come from an instructor and he other come from a practicum Faculty Advisor.

Can a UBC-V teacher candidate self-nominate themselves for a UBC-V Outstanding Practicum Award or UBC-V Outstanding CFE Award?

A teacher candidate cannot nominate themselves for the “Outstanding Practicum Award: or the “Outstanding CFE Award”. (Note, however, that several of the adjudicated awards take into account  a teacher candidate’s activities over coursework and practicum work).

Are TC’s eligible to self nominate if they are on a student loan?

All TCs are eligible to self nominate for the BEd course awards regardless if they are on a student loan or not.

I am a practicum FA who is not an instructor and one of my teacher candidates has asked me to submit a reference nomination supporting the teacher candidate’s self-nomination. To help me focus my reference nomination, what awards (aside from the Outstanding Practicum Award) involve a practicum component?

These following awards are looking for teacher candidates who had an exemplary practicum and/or had an exemplary practicum and coursework. Specific award description and selection criteria can be found in the award descriptions here: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/

  • Edna Baxter Memorial Prize
  • Alice V. Borden Memorial Prize
  • Alice V. Borden Memorial Scholarship
  • Alishia Nora Harris Memorial Practicum Award
  • Joan Tuey Sch. in Early Childhood Ed
  • Sonia Craddock Memorial Prize
  • Associate Dean of Teacher Ed Prize
  • Kay Norgan Meek Scholarship

Please explain the different forms that FAs, instructors and Faculty members are to use when submitting practicum and coursework nominations?

  1. If a FA wishes to nominate a teacher candidate strictly for an Outstanding Practicum Award (remember, teacher candidates cannot self nominate for an outstanding practicum award), please submit this form: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/forms/outstanding-practicum-nomination-form/
  2. If an instructor/Faculty Member wishes to directly nominate a teacher candidate for a Coursework  Award (and not a supporting reference for a self-nomination) they would use this form:  https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/forms/instructor-faculty-nomination-form/
  3. If the nomination is for coursework (and not a supporting reference for a self-nomination coursework award), and an outstanding practicum, submit both forms above.
  4. If a teacher candidate asks an instructor/Faculty Member to submit a supporting reference for their course work self-nomination, please use this form: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/forms/faculty-reference-form/

If an instructor wishes to directly nominate a teacher candidate for a course work award,  are they also required to submit a self-nomination?

If an instructor wishes to directly nominate a teacher candidate for a coursework award (#2 above), they are not also required to submit a self-nomination (#4 above).  The adjudication committee will assume an Instructor’s/Faculty’s direct nomination also supports the teacher candidate’s self-nomination.

What are the criteria for nominating UBC-V teacher candidates for an award?

A list of the general award criteria is listed within the publicly accessed UBC-V BEd Award nomination forms. For example, for the practicum award, the UBC-V BEd awards committee is looking for teacher candidates who exhibit 3 of the following overarching outstanding attributes during their practicum:

    •  Originality or innovation
    •  Passion for teaching
    •  Initiative
    •  Understanding & application of course content
    •  Flexibility
    •  Engagement
    •  Inquiry disposition
    •  Ability to motivate
    •  Interpersonal skills
    •  Work ethic
    •  Professionalism

Additionally for the practicum, nominators can indicate if a student was noteworthy not only in their grade and subject areas, but in the following areas:

    • Special emphasis with Teaching Through the Arts in practicum
    • Special attention to working with children with special learning needs/diverse learners
    • Language and literacy focus
    • ELL focus
    • Extra-curricular involvement
    • Early childhood focus during practicum
    • Leadership in sports

Finally, some of the UBC-V awards have specific selection criteria stated within the award description.  For example, the Barbara Mikulec Prize in Education states that it is awarded to elementary BEd Teacher Candidate “whose teaching practicum demonstrates success in teaching English as an Additional Language”.  Also, the Tsutae and Hanako Sato Prize is “awarded to a student of Japanese ancestry in the Elementary & Middle Years option whose work has been exemplary”.

Are there any recommendations for nominators?

Some recommendations for nominators is to:

    1. Review the nomination forms before nominating a TC.
    2. Read the award descriptions to determine what specific characteristics/accomplishments donors are looking to celebrate in award winner.
    3. If there is an award whose general or specific selection criteria matches the TC’s characteristics and accomplishments, do not hesitate to mention the award in the descriptive portion of the nomination and provide a description of the TC’s characteristics/accomplishments in a manner that it is obvious that they meet the award’s selection criteria,
    4. Consider using clear concrete examples/descriptions that bring the teacher candidate’s accomplishments “to life” so the selection committee can ‘see’ the teacher candidates’ accomplishments.

What sort of things are the UBC BEd awards adjudication committee looking for in the 400 word essay supporting application?

The essay is a place to add detail to the nomination, bring the teacher candidate’s accomplishments alive, and expand on information briefly touched upon earlier in the nomination.

Strong nominations are also ones that use the 400 word box to submit well written and thoughtful reasons how and why the teacher candidate was outstanding or exceptional in their teaching and learning during the program. Often statements are supported and ‘brought to life’ by succinctly written observed evidence. For example an adequate submission may state, “Tyra effectively developed and effectively used children literature in their lessons”.  A strong submission may state, “Often reflective of a seasoned teacher, Tyra effectively developed lessons that taught age-appropriate content area reading strategies through an inquiry-based children’s non-fiction literature unit on climate change. The unit was child centered, exposed children to a variety of media and literature formats and incorporated/created texts representative the diversity in the classroom.  At the end of her practicum, the school’s teacher librarian asked Tyra for a copy of her unit plan for next year!”

Can UBC-V faculty advisors  nominate teacher candidates for the UBC-V Outstanding Practicum Award and UBC-V CFE award?

Yes. Faculty advisors can assist the adjudication committee match a UBC-V BEd award with a deserving teacher candidate by nominating the teacher candidate for any award that indicates the practicum is part of the selection process.  For example, the Alishia Nora Harris Memorial Practicum Award is looking for “a teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education (Elementary) Program, with preference given to a teacher candidate who uses creative arts in his/her teaching practicum or whose concentration is expressive arts”. In cases like this, the faculty advisor is advised to note the name of the award in the “Reasons for Nomination” section of the Outstanding Practicum Award Nomination Form.  Either this or submit a separate Instructor/Faculty Nomination Form with the specific award named in the “Reason’s for Nomination” section.

Can UBC-V practicum faculty advisors nominate teacher candidates for the Associate Dean of Teacher Education Prize?

Definitely! The Associate Dean of Teacher Education Prize nomination form states,

“Prizes are offered annually by the Faculty of Education for graduating BEd candidates in elementary & middle years or secondary education who have shown consistent, outstanding performance in the area of inquiry. Such teacher candidates will have shown evidence of their exceptional ability to engage thoughtfully in educational study, to raise critical questions about their teaching practice as well as about the future, collective profession, and to situate those questions in their study of the scholarly or policy work and/or practices of other educators. Award-worthy teacher candidates will have expressed their ability to reflect upon and represent their learning experiences (during the Teacher Education Program, both in coursework and fieldwork) in light of a critical engagement with what it means to be a professional and to be engaged in a profession. Recommendations made by the Faculty of Education”.

Understandably, those advisors who have worked with an exceptional teacher candidate, both as the teacher candidate’s practicum faculty advisor and course instructor, will be able to provide perspectives on the teacher candidate’s outstanding performance in both coursework and fieldwork. Moreover, if a faculty advisor was not the teacher candidate’s instructor, they may not be able to provide a perspective on the teacher candidate’s coursework. However, we implore all practicum faculty advisors to nominate exceptional teacher candidates for the Associate Dean of Teacher Education Prize. Even if the practicum faculty advisor is only able to provide a perspective of the student’s coursework, when paired up with nomination from a teacher candidate’s instructor, may provide the very information that will place the teacher candidate in the running for the award.

The same can be said for instructors who can only provide a perspective on the teacher candidate’s exceptionality thorough coursework.  Their nomination may be supported by faculty advisor working with the same student during practicum.

Must a  Faculty member (FA/instructor) submit a second nomination for the Associate Dean Award?

Yes.  This and the Emily Longworth Award are the only two awards adjudicated by the committee that are considered through their own nomination forms.

Can a teacher candidate self nominate themselves for the Associate Dean of Teacher Education award?

No.  Only a faculty member (instructor/FA) can nominate a teacher candidate for the Associate Dean of Teacher Education Award.

I would like to nominate a teacher candidate for two awards, do I need to fill out two forms?

There are seven different award forms representing specific awards or a group of awards (see: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/).  Nominators will need to complete as many of the nomination forms that they think the teacher candidate should be considered for an award.

For example, let’s say a FA (who is also an instructor) wishes to nominate a talented teacher candidate for a course award and a practicum award.  In this case they will need to submit the following two forms:

However, if the FA wishes to nominate a teacher candidate for two different course awards (for example the Agnes Philipps Scholarship in Education and the Barbara Mikulec Prize in Education) then they need only to fill in one course award form.  In this case they would note in the ‘Reasons for Nominations’ field (Or “Reasons” field), that they are nominating the teacher candidate for two specific course awards. (Do not fret! This will not limit the teacher candidate’s chances to obtain other awards, as all course nominations will be considered for all BEd course awards).

In the Outstanding Practicum Nomination Form there is a heading, “Additional Emphasis”. What is listed under this heading? Are they course-like certificates, or is it something the teacher candidate excels at in the process of doing the practicum?

Some awards focus on celebrating a teacher candidate’s specific teaching/learning accomplishments/abilities during the program.  Some of these awards are not specific to coursework but also consider excellence demonstrated while on the practicum. The accomplishments/abilities that these awards celebrate are listed under the form’s sub-heading, “Additional Emphasis”.  For example, “leadership in sports” is listed under “Additional Emphasis” .  Ticking off the box preceding the “leadership in sports”, will help the award adjudicators match nominees who demonstrate instructional excellence through leadership in sports with the award celebrating leadership in sports. So if any of your teacher candidates strike you as excelling in any of the “Additional Emphasis” areas, please do not hesitate to tick it off and be sure to add a few words of related explanation in the “Reason for nomination” at the end of the form.

Do all UBC-V BEd awards come with financial compensation, and if so where is this information listed?

The majority of awards listed in the UBC-V BEd Awards List (see: https://teach.educ.ubc.ca/students/awards/), come with financial compensation.  Except for newly created awards, the estimated financial compensation associated with each award can be found through the UBC Award Search located here:  https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/award-search.  IMPORTANT CAVEAT: Award descriptions are meant for reference only. Values listed may not reflect the most up to date information.  Not all awards listed are funded every year.  Awards that are designed to be split amongst teacher candidates can increase or decrease an award’s posted value (as posted on the UBC Award Search).

The Outstanding practicum and Outstanding CFE awards do not come with financial compensation.  However, when placed on a CV these awards add credibility to the teacher candidates instructional abilities and talents, which provide ‘value’ when job seeking.  So indirectly one can say these awards have their own kind of ‘pay back’.

Are awards offered every year?

Most awards are offered annually, however some are awarded bi-annually.

When are award winners notified?

Award winners are notified the first September and October after they finish their BEd program.   Winners are asked to keep this information to themselves until the BEd awards ceremony – usually held the third or fourth week of the November in which the Teacher Candidate graduates.

How are BEd awards Adjudicated?

Awards are divided between, and adjudicated by, the NITEP Awards Committee, the BEd Awards Committee, and the Faculty of Education’s Departmental Awards committees.  Each committee is made up of multiple faculty representatives (or adjudicators) who work in the BEd program. For example, the BEd Awards Committee is responsible for matching the majority of BEd awards with deserving teacher candidates consists of four faculty members (one from each department contributing to the BEd program’s academic content) and one Teacher Education Office representative.

Although each committee has a slightly different process for adjudicating awards, in essence committee members are asked to individually review and assess the merit and accomplishments presented in every nomination.  Each adjudicator then: 1) matches the qualities/intentions of each nomination (faculty and self) to current award selection criteria or requirements, and then, 2) choses one nomination that best meets each award’s specific (and/or general) selection criteria, intentions, or requirements (e.g., demonstration of excellence in using children literature on practicum, or degree of financial need during program, etc.). Committee members then meet as a group to compare, contrast, debate, discuss, adjudicate, and democratically decide (sometimes through voting processes), a final list of nominees that best meets each award’s unique selection criteria or requirements.