Mary McCorison Rosenbloom Teaching Award

The Mary M. Rosenbloom Teaching Award is a $1500 award that honors an individual who has created and delivered exemplary and innovative instruction programs over a two-year period. The faculty and staff of the KU Libraries teach in a variety of venues and formats, including workshops, course-integrated instruction, Web-based instruction, and credit courses offered through academic departments and other partner programs. In addition, library instructors may provide instructional support to other faculty members through the development of instructional materials, assignments, or other mechanisms for the assessment of student learning in the area of information and technology literacy. All librarians and staff who engage in teaching are encouraged to apply.

The primary criteria for selection of the recipient of this award are the design and delivery of exemplary instruction in the area of information and technology literacy and contribution to the instructional environment in KU Libraries. This is not a lifetime achievement award but instead covers work done during the past two academic years. 

Eligibility

All full-time KU Libraries faculty and staff who have completed at least two years of service to the Libraries are eligible. The most recent winner is not eligible for the next award cycle.

Nomination Procedures

A call for self-nominations/nominations will be made biennially by the Dean of Libraries. Given the nature of this award and the subsequent teaching materials to be submitted, self-nominations by eligible library faculty or staff are strongly encouraged. Any person or group of persons affiliated with the University of Kansas may also nominate an eligible colleague. For any self-nomination/ nomination to receive full consideration, it must be accompanied by the following:

  • Professional Development Philosophy or Teaching Statement (limit of 2 pages)
  • Current CV or resume
  • Summary of instruction sessions taught
  • 3-7 examples dated from the past two academic years, that best demonstrate your teaching. Examples can include but are not limited to the following:
     
    • Libguides
    • Assignments (suites of content/resources with prompts, etc.)
    • Tutorials
    • Lesson Plans
    • Collaborative exchanges with instructors to develop instruction strategy
    • Letters or reviews received regarding your teaching
    • Conference presentations or publications related to instruction

Please note: Accompanying documents must be labeled to indicate they fit within this two-year period.

Self-nominators/nominators are asked to complete a Mary McCorison Rosenbloom Teaching Award Form by 5 p.m., Friday, October 17, 2025.

Criteria for Winning

Evidence for teaching excellence could include (but is not limited to):

  • clarity and enthusiasm in teaching
  • creative, original, effective teaching materials
  • design or revision of courses, curricula and materials
  • development and use of innovative methods in curriculum or teaching techniques
  • strategies to help student success and retention
  • special efforts to work with students
  • peer and/or student evaluations (please include only a summary of evaluations by course/semester)
  • management or development of instructional programs or components

Selection

Self-nominations/nominations being considered for the award will be reviewed and a winner selected by the Dean of Libraries with input from the library leadership. In making the selection, they will apply the criteria stated in the description of the award. 

All nomination materials will be considered confidential and will be retained in the Library Administration Office files.