About the Award

The Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership acknowledges those individuals who exemplify such excellence and those who contribute more generally to the improvement of the quality of university teaching at the University of Prince Edward Island.

The award is named for Janet Pottie Murray and was created by her daughter, Dr. Shannon Murray. In her daughter’s words this award is “in recognition of her model of leadership in learning despite the fact that she has never taught; but leaders support, encourage and direct others, and that’s what she has done. Those whom she has supported have been fortunate to be publicly recognized for their work; but the best leaders, and the best teachers, are not always those who are most visible.”

This award is to recognize outstanding leaders in education on campus: not leaders in research or in university administration, but those who demonstrate a consistent commitment to the improvement of university teaching with particular emphasis on contributions beyond the nominee’s discipline or profession.

Nominees for the award will have provided leadership among faculty colleagues in developing activities that help create an environment in which teaching excellence is fostered and appreciated. For example, he/she might have:

• participated in organizing the institution’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of the instruction it offers to its students
• been instrumental in the development of a program of teaching awards;
• assisted colleagues either formally or informally in their efforts to improve their teaching;
• provided guidance to new faculty members; have organized or participated actively in workshops, symposia, or conferences on university instruction; or,
• been involved in collaborative efforts to develop innovative methods of teaching.

Eligibility

Nominees must not have received the Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership within the past five years.

Nomination Process

Nominees may be any member of the UPEI Faculty Association (sessional, term, tenure-stream, permanent). The award could be split under certain circumstances – when, for example, the leadership is clearly collaborative.

The nomination sponsor must submit a separate confidential letter of support that addresses the criteria for the award and summarizes the major strengths of the candidate.

Nominees who accept the nomination will be responsible for submitting supporting documents emphasizing their contributions to educational leadership at UPEI. This digital dossier should be submitted as a PDF file. The document should be no more than ten (10) pages long. Anything beyond ten (10) pages will not be considered. The completed file will contain the following material:

• A letter of nomination from person making the nomination (not the nominee) that summarizes the major strengths of the candidate.
• A one- to two-page statement from the nominee, dated and signed, about his/her philosophy of educational leadership and how they have demonstrated their leadership.
• One current letter of support from a colleague/peer detailing the candidate’s active involvement in attempts to enhance the quality of instruction offered to the university’s students.
• Maximum four-page curriculum vitae. The C.V. should include information about the candidate’s involvement in attempts to enhance the quality of instruction at UPEI. Ideally, the C.V. should be directed towards the candidate’s teaching, and towards leadership and scholarly activities related to teaching.
• If available, a copy of a citation for any other relevant award which the candidate may have received.
• Any additional information which the nominator considers might be helpful to the adjudication committee.