Nəc̓əmaat kʷəns čeʔi ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən | ĆȺNEUEL OL ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN | Work together with a good heart and mind

Award for Decolonization and Indigenous Anti-Racism

This award supports work being done across campus to review and update curricula and pedagogical practice using decolonization and/or anti-Indigenous racism approaches. Recipients of this award have integrated these approaches in their course design and delivery, to enhance student learning. This award is aligned with the draft UVic Strategic Plan, the Equity Action Plan and the upcoming Indigenous plan, as well as the provincial Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and Action Plan 2022-27.

The Office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost administers the award in collaboration with the Division of Learning and Teaching Innovation (LTI).

Eligibility

This award is open to:

• all faculty members as defined in the Collective Agreement
• those currently holding a regular faculty position and anticipate continuing in that position for the next academic year; and,
• have taught two or more courses at the graduate and/or undergraduate level that include decolonization and/or anti-Indigenous racism approaches.

Award criteria

Nominations will be assessed based on evidence of outstanding contributions in the following elements of decolonization and/or Indigenous anti-racism:

• Includes practices and/or teachings in course and course materials that integrate Indigenous ways of knowing, as well as recognizing and celebrating Indigenous teachings, languages, lands and protocols
• Includes practices and/or teachings in course and course materials that deconstruct and critically examine western ways of knowing and challenge systems or oppressive policies
• Improves learning experiences of students by creating the space and avenues that allow students to bring their lived experiences and that demonstrates respect, inclusion and equity for Indigenous identities
• Describe course learning outcomes that directly connect or relate to the calls of action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action (TRC) (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015), DRIPA (Government of British Columbia, 2022), and Xʷkʷənəŋ istəl W̱ȻENEṈISTEL: 2023-2028 Indigenous Plan (University of Victoria, 2023) such as: developing culturally appropriate curricula that include Indigenous cultural competencies; protecting the and advancing the right to Indigenous [i] languages, including the teaching of Indigenous languages as credit courses; and including opportunities for Indigenous students to engage in courses and with course materials that reflect their own experiences, knowledges, lands and languages (Government of British Columbia, 2022)

 [i] Language was adapted from Aboriginal to Indigenous to be in line with language used in UVic’s upcoming Indigenous Plan

Nomination components

Submit your nomination through the online form. Submit all the nomination components in one combined PDF.

Nominee bio

Include a summary of the nominee’s distinctive contributions, including their teaching practices and philosophy. This will be used to brief the adjudicators and for promotional purposes if the nominee is the successful candidate. 100 words maximum.

Nomination letter

A signed written statement including:

• teaching practices
• teaching philosophy
• impact of teaching on student learning specific to award criteria

Two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Two letters of support

• At least one of the two letters of support must be written primarily by a former student and can include additional authors, including students or faculty members. 
• The second letter may to be from faculty, staff, community partners or alumni, or another former student.
• Letters are to address nominees' effective teaching practices (i.e., student engagement, student learning, value of the courses to their overall program, effective teaching strategies, creativity in course design, teaching inspired by research, student mentoring, and innovative or effective assignments.)

Each letter is two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Narrative Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A narrative CV, following the Tri-Agency guidelines. Please also include courses taught and relevant teaching awards.

• Tri-Agency narrative CV template and instructions

Five pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.

Demonstration of Excellence in Teaching (NEW)

A demonstration of excellence in teaching, presented as a selectively curated set of evidence demonstrating the impact of the nominee's teaching on student learning. The nomination letter should explicitly reference the evidence included in this supporting document, as well as clearly connect it to the award criteria. 

Appropriate evidence or demonstration may include excerpts or selections from:

• course syllabi
• assignment descriptions and rubrics
• lesson plans or instructional materials
• samples of current work
• photos of cultural or creative works
• transcript excerpts from videos or oral submissions
• excerpts from cultural stories or photo essays
• community-based validation (e.g., evidence of relationships, demonstrated impact, community voice) 

Two pages maximum with 12pt font, 1-inch margins.