Award for Excellence in Teaching

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence

The Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes Riverland educators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to student learning, innovation in the classroom, and meaningful contributions to the college community.

Nominate an Outstanding Educator

Nominations are open to faculty and staff, students, alumni, administration, and community members. Faculty may not nominate themselves.

Nominations opening soon for the 2027 Outstanding Educator.

Don’t miss your chance to recognize someone who makes a difference.

Submit a Nomination
Illustration encouraging nomination of an outstanding educator

Meet Our Outstanding Educators

Riverland has a strong tradition of recognizing educators who go above and beyond to support student success. Explore past award recipients and see the impact they’ve made across our college.

View Previous Educator Award Winners

Purpose

The Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence are conferred annually to college and university teaching faculty to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

Minnesota State Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Teaching

The award recognizes the core importance of teaching within Minnesota State colleges and universities. Excellence in teaching includes skillful instructional methods, a strong focus on student learning, and subject matter expertise.

The primary criterion is teaching that is inclusive, innovative, learning-centered, and collaborative. This award reflects a commitment to providing high-quality instruction that prepares students for professional, scholarly, and civic success.

At Riverland, one faculty member is selected as the Board of Trustees Outstanding Educator through nominations from the college and surrounding communities. This individual is then eligible to be selected as Educator of the Year across Minnesota State.

Educator Recognition Program

The program recognizes excellence in teaching at both the institutional and system level.

  1. Outstanding Educators: Faculty identified at the college level as exemplary educators through a local committee process and nominated by the college president.
  2. Educators of the Year: Selected from Outstanding Educators and honored by the Board of Trustees as representatives of teaching excellence across Minnesota State.

Overview of Process

  • Open nominations are accepted from faculty, students, alumni, administration, and community members.
  • A local committee reviews nominations and recommends finalists to the college president.
  • The college president selects one Outstanding Educator to represent Riverland.
  • This individual is then submitted as Riverland’s nominee for the Board of Trustees Educator of the Year award.