Students honor professors who spark intellectual curiosity

Did you have a professor at Duke who helped to shape your entire college experience? Who influenced you beyond classwork to learn and grow as a student and as an individual? Undergraduates may honor such professors by nominating them for the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (ADUTA). The Duke Alumni Association created the award 40 years ago, and it remains the highest recognition students can bestow upon a teacher.

The winning professor receives $5,000 and the privilege of directing a $1,000 donation to the Duke library of his or her choice. A panel of undergraduate students randomly selected by the registrar reviews the nominations and determine who will receive award.

An ADUTA professor:

• Is original, creative, and clear in his or her approach to the classroom. Both spontaneous thought and formal presentations are educational, pertinent, and engaging.
• Fosters an environment for learning that promotes intellectual curiosity and personal growth and achievement.
• Stays abreast of current research and development in his or her field and makes the learning applicable.
• Evaluates each student conscientiously and fairly, and provides advice and comments when appropriate or sought.
• Provides a climate for learning that engages intellectual curiosity and promotes personal achievement.
• Is available to students and responsive to their needs.
• Knows students as individuals, at least as far as reasonably permitted by class size.
• Sees that goals and objectives are clear to the student.
• Is a member of the regular rank faculty, which includes the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, professor of the practice, associate professor of the practice, assistant professor of the practice, research professor, associate research professor, assistant research professor, and lecturer. (Some titles may have distinguished modifiers, such as James B. Duke Professor.)

Four decades of honoring instructional excellence

The Alumni Association established the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (ADUTA) in 1970 as the highest form of recognition a professor could receive from students. Originally, the award went annually to three professors who received $500 each.

In 1981, the association's Executive Committee increased elected to honor a single professor each year. It also increased the prize to $3,000, with an additional $500 going to the Duke Library to purchase books in the recipient's field. In 1990, the DAA Awards and Recognition Committee increased the award to $5,000, with an additional $1,000 going to a Duke library of the winner's choice.