How to nominate someone
Each year the John Willis Award is given to a member of staff in recognition of their dedication to the academic and pastoral care of students combined with a significant contribution to teaching and accomplishment in research.
You can submit a nomination for the John Willis Award if you are:
- a postgraduate student
- an undergraduate student
- a member of academic staff
Self nominations are not accepted.
[Submit a nomination form] to recommend someone for for the John Willis Award. Nominations for the University Teaching Awards 2024 are now closed.
Following receipt of the nomination form, nominees will be contacted to confirm their willingness to progress to the next stage. At this point, the following supporting statements will be requested:
nominees will be asked to produce a personal statement in which they articulate their teaching and research philosophy and show how they provide pastoral support for their students.
supporting statements will be requested from the nominee’s Director of Studies and relevant students.
Nominations and supporting statements will be considered by the University's Awards Committee in April.
Criteria
Nominees must be able to demonstrate:
- a good track record of research
- a record of research-informed teaching
- a strong commitment to pastoral care
For the research element:
We take a broad view of research and look for nominees who have proven research track record, evidenced by a substantial portfolio of articles published primarily in major journals or other outputs appropriate to the discipline, such as books, book chapters, conference proceedings, etc.
For the teaching element:
The candidate should be known for very good teaching or learning support which can be attested by evidence from a teaching profile or peer observation and feedback or in another form. This should include exceptional student feedback on teaching and evidence of the candidate’s commitment to pastoral care.
Nominees can draw upon evidence from Semester 2 (2021/22) and/or during the academic year 2022/23.
Eligibility
Eligibility for this Award is restricted to those academics with ten or fewer years in an academic post.
Previous winners of the award will be eligible for nomination five years after the award was made.
Unsuccessful nominees may be nominated for the award in subsequent years.
The prize
The award winner will receive £1,000 in prize money.
If a joint award is made, the winners will each receive the £500 prize.
Award winners will be announced at a joint awards event with The SU Bath Academic Rep Awards (date tbc). Following a meeting of the University's Awards Committee in April, nominees for the University Teaching Awards will be informed if they have been shortlisted to attend.
Award winners will be presented with a certificate at the summer graduation ceremonies.
The prize money will be paid through the payroll and will be subject to PAYE.
Previous winners
Since 1995 this award has been presented to outstanding members of staff in recognition of their dedication to the pastoral care of students, their significant contribution to teaching and their accomplishment in research.
Find out more about our past award winners.
Background
Professor John Willis was a member of the Department of Mathematical Sciences for 22 years.
He established an international reputation for his research in applied mathematics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1991. He also became known throughout the University as committed to our students both in their formal education and their development as individuals.
Other teaching awards
Each year the University presents a number of awards to members of staff in recognition of their outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. Find out more about our other teaching awards.