Faculty Honored for Outstanding Teaching
Des Lawler
Professor
Chandra Bhat
Professor
Drs. Chandra Bhat and Des Lawler were recognized by the university with two prestigious honors for their outstanding teaching.
Transportation Engineering Professor Chandra Bhat was selected as a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at the University of Texas at Austin. The Academy of Distinguished Teachers was established in 1995 and demonstrates the university's commitment to excellence in teaching. Approximately 5% of the tenured faculty at the university are elected as members. Bhat is one of seven new members selected this year, and the ninth member of the Academy from the Cockrell School of Engineering.
The purpose of UT's Academy of Distinguished Teachers is to honor and reward excellence in teaching; enhance teaching effectiveness, particularly at the undergraduate level; create a central core of teachers who can serve as a resource and an inspiration for other teachers; and to select a body of faculty who can promote a sense of community among teachers, foster research on effective college teaching and learning, and advise the institution on teaching policies and practices. The academy will serve as an advisory group to the executive vice president and provost on teaching excellence and will provide institutional leadership and guidance for the distinctive undergraduate experience available in the university's research environment.
The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System recognized Des Lawler, Professor in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, for outstanding teaching. The awards are given to faculty members who demonstrate extraordinary classroom performance and innovation at the undergraduate level. Lawler is one of 72 faculty from the system recognized by the Board.
Board of Regents Award nominees must demonstrate a clear commitment to teaching and sustained ability to deliver excellence to the undergraduate learning experience. Faculty candidates underwent rigorous examination of their teaching performance over three years by campus and external examiners. Evaluations by students, peer faculty and outside reviewers considered a wide range of criteria which included classroom expertise, curricula quality, innovative course development and student learning outcomes.
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