John H. Buchanan Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching
Every year, Samford University recognizes two faculty for their contributions to teaching and learning. One of those awards is the John H. Buchanan Award for Excellence in Teaching. The selection process for this awards is delineated below.
- The provost’s office sends a nomination/questionnaire form along with a list of eligible current (part-time and full-time) faculty members to all senior students. To be considered for the award, nominees must be undergraduate faculty and have taught at Samford for a minimum of four years. Part-time faculty, currently teaching, must have taught at least one course each of the four years. Seniors return the completed forms to the provost’s office.
- The provost appoints an unannounced selection committee composed of faculty and students. This committee meets and discusses the top nominees in regards to their perceived teaching excellence.
- The committee votes by secret ballot.
- The provost collects the ballots, determines the highest vote recipient, and announces the Buchanan Award winner at the fall convocation.
Past Recipients
2022-2023 Laura Byland, Arts
George Macon Award
The George Macon Memorial Award may be given annually to a faculty member who through outstanding performance as a teacher, as a counselor, and as a friend to students demonstrates the ability to inspire students to greatness. An anonymous committee of faculty considers nominations for this award, which carries with it a pin of distinction and a check for $1,000, arose from the creative interaction of a teacher with his student. The award honors the teacher, George Macon, who graduated from this school in the class of 1884 when it was called Howard College and joined the faculty in 1887 to teach chemistry, natural history, applied mathematics and engineering. He served twice at Howard College for a total of 23 years before taking an appointment elsewhere in 1918. The award was established by Roy L. Smart in 1976, a full 60 years after Smart was a student in George Macon’s classes at Howard College. The George Macon Award celebrates the enduring influence a teacher can have on students, and in so doing, it encourages us all to appreciate anew the profound significance of being called to teach.
Past Recipients
2022-2023 Greg Kawell, AS
Jennings B. Marshall Award for University Service
The award will be given to full-time faculty members who have made significant and sustained service contributions to the university during their career at Samford University.
University service is defined as participation and leadership in activities other than teaching and research that contribute in important ways to the mission of Samford University.
Faculty members eligible for the award are full-time faculty who have exhibited sustained university service activity over several years and who have provided significant leadership within the university. Their contributions should be further evidenced by substantial time commitments and significant accomplishments related to their service activities. All individuals entitled to vote in the all-university faculty elections are eligible for the faculty service award.
Nominations are to be made by full-time faculty or administrators other than the nominee. The nomination should include a narrative detailing the faculty member’s university service contributions over at least the five years leading up to the nomination and should address the nominee’s participation, leadership, time commitment and accomplishments. In addition, a discussion of how the efforts of the nominee have contributed to the mission of Samford University should be included.
The selection will be made from nominations by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee with the assistance of Jennings B. Marshall (as long as he will participate).
2022-2023 Stephen Chew, AS
Outstanding Scholarship Award
The Samford University Outstanding Scholarship Award will be given to full time faculty who have made significant and sustained scholarly contributions to their discipline and the academy during their career, especially during their time at Samford University.