Academic Affairs Awards
The Tennessee Tech Academic Affairs Awards recognize faculty and staff across campus who are promoting an atmosphere of excellence, innovation, and embody the Wings Up Way. Each year, awards are given to faculty and staff from the various offices and centers within Academic Affairs. Recipients are recognized at the Academic Affairs Awards Ceremony in the fall.
View Award Archive of previous Winners
2025-2026
Nominations will take place from December 1, 2025 to February 27, 2026. If you have questions, please contact CAFE@tntech.edu.
Research
Teaching & Learning
- Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching
- Faculty Excellence in Course Design
- Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching
- General Education Award for Outstanding Teaching
Service
Campus Engagement
Caplenor Faculty Research Award
The Caplenor Research Award is the highest honor that Tennessee Tech bestows upon its faculty. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2025-2026 Award is Thursday, December 4, 2025. No individual may nominate more than one person. Complete guidelines and the nomination form can be found on the Office of Research's home page.
Scholar-Mentor Award
Tennessee Tech University’s Scholar-Mentor Award honors a faculty member who displays outstanding mentorship, integrating scholarship, research and teaching excellence. Criteria to be considered for nomination for the Scholar-Mentor Award are outstanding accomplishments in mentoring, scholarship, research, and teaching while a member of the Tennessee Tech University faculty. Learn more and complete a nomination using the link below.
Scholastic Research Award
The Annual Scholastic Research Award is a university-wide award for a single, significant, and innovative work produced, published, performed, or exhibited during the preceding calendar year (January 1 – December 31). Applications are open to all tenure-track or tenured faculty, with one award reserved for tenure-track faculty and one award reserved for tenured faculty, for a total of two awards each cycle. Please contact the Office of Research for more information.
Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching
The Outstanding Faculty Award is a university-wide award for faculty who have exhibited excellence in regard to their teaching. All full or part-time faculty who have taught two of the last three years at Tennessee Tech (inclusive of summer terms) are eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are not eligible within a three-year period after receiving this award. Nominations can be submitted by any student, faculty member, alumnus, or administrator.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.
Faculty Excellence in Course Design
The Faculty Excellence in Course Design Award is a university-wide award presented by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for faculty whose course stands out for its engaging content, effective assessments, and innovation in design and layout. All full or part-time faculty who taught during the award cycle are eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are not eligible for a two-year period after receiving this award. Nominations can be submitted by any student, faculty member, alumnus, or administrator.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.
Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching
The Faculty Excellence in Online Teaching Award is a university-wide award presented by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for a faculty member whose online course exemplifies excellence in online teaching, course design, student engagement, and innovative online course activities. All full or part-time faculty who have taught online during the award cycle are eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are not eligible for a two-year period after receiving this award. Nominations can be submitted by any student, faculty member, alumnus, or administrator.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.
General Education Award for Outstanding Teaching
The General Education Award for Outstanding Teaching is a university-wide award for outstanding instruction in a general education course. All full or part-time faculty or graduate teaching assistants who have taught at Tennessee Tech for at least two semesters, exclusive of summer terms, preceding the semester in which the nomination occurs, are eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are not eligible for a two-year period after receiving this award. Nominations can be submitted by any student, faculty member, alumnus, or administrator. Two winners are selected each year to receive a plaque or certificate and a monetary award.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.
Outstanding Faculty Award for Professional Service
The Outstanding Faculty Award for Professional Service is a university-wide award for demonstrating service to the university in non-teaching and non-research capabilities or service in their professional area of expertise external to the university community and without compensation. All full or part time faculty who have taught two full years within the past three years at Tennessee Tech (inclusive of summer terms) are eligible for this award. Recipients of this award are not eligible for a three-year period after receiving this award. Nominations can be submitted by any student, faculty member, alumnus, or administrator.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.
Tech Togetherness Awards
The Tech Togetherness Awards, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, are university-wide
awards for employees who are encouraging or have initiative; a team player; go the
extra mile to find solutions; build better relationships by standing in the gap; or
are simply considered an unsung hero. All regular full-time and part-time Tennessee Tech employees
are eligible for this award. Nominations can be submitted by any Tech employee, student,
or friend of the university.
Nominations for awards close on February 27, 2026. You can complete your nomination using the form below. Please note that you can only complete one nomination per form.