Establishment
In his April 9, 1999 Inaugural Address as second
President of University, Dr. Stuart D. Cook, shared
his vision and rationale for creating the UMDNJ
Master Educators' Guild:
"Twenty-five years ago, the National Science
Foundation asked that generation's leading scientists
what they felt was the most important factor
in their education. The answer was almost uniformly
the opportunity to work closely with a great
and
inspiring teacher. That same answer holds true
today. I firmly believe that education is a
university's unique and most important mission.
As we travel on our path to excellence, we must
provide our students with the highest quality
education. In an increasingly competitive world,
our efforts must be focused on graduating students
who are sought after for the best job opportunities
and the finest graduate educational programs.
In recognition of the importance of this mission,
I believe it is essential that we recognize and
reward our best and most dedicated teachers.
Towards that end, I am announcing the formation
of a Master Educators Program. Its purpose is
to recognize University faculty who set the highest
standards of academic excellence and have a true
gift for teaching whether they are in the classroom,
in the research laboratory, or in a patient care
setting."
Purpose
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The purpose of the Master Educators' Guild is
to recognize and promote excellence in the University's
educational mission and to contribute to educational
scholarship, research and innovation. Excellence
may be demonstrated in any instructional setting
including classroom instruction, hospital or
clinic teaching, laboratory instruction, research
mentoring and instruction, continuing education,
community-based instructional settings or electronically
mediated teaching and learning. The Guild and
its members also may initiate or promote curricular
and faculty development, new educational programs,
individual or collaborative educational research,
scholarship and innovative methods of teaching,
subject to the authority and control of the
President of UMDNJ or his or her designee and
in accord with the bylaws of the University.
The Guild shall furthermore encourage the University
to support the teaching mission logistically
and financially.
Goals
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The goals of the UMDNJ Master Educators' Guild
are to:
facilitate and support the improvement of educational
effectiveness and innovation
conduct scholarly activity in support of the University's
educational programming, which may be provided
to other health professions educators
organize and conduct programs for individual or
groups of faculty to improve education at every
level of the University
Selection & Recognition
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Master Educators are chosen by their deans from
nominations by their peers, students, other
faculty, administrators, and department chairs.
Nominees must demonstrate exceptional teaching
skills, creativity in curriculum design or innovations
in the delivery of education, and currency and
the underlying scholarship requisite for exceptional
teaching. In addition, nominees should engenders
enthusiasm among their students and be regarded
by their peers as an excellent educator.
A University-wide committee annually reviews
and approves nominees, who are inducted as Guild
members each fall at the University Day ceremonies
for renewable term of five years. In addition
to the title, each Master Educator receives the
Guild medallion and an unrestricted grant to further
scholarly activities. Guild members proudly wear
the medallion at ceremonial functions such as
the University's annual commencement exercises
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