top of page

ACIFA Awards​

Each year at the ACIFA annual conference, exceptional educators are honored for their contributions to teaching, innovation, and research in post-secondary education. Sponsored by Belair Direct, these three awards celebrate excellence in scholarly teaching, creative instructional design, and distinguished commitment to learners. Do you have colleagues who are innovative, research-driven, and dedicated to teaching and learning? Recognize their impact by nominating them for an ACIFA award!

​

In addition to individual recognition, each award includes a $1,500 prize for the recipient and a $500 contribution to their faculty association.

 

Full details about award eligibility and nominations can be found below.

Award Nominations and SoTL Application: Deadline: January 3, 2027

Winners Announced: February 5, 2027

belairdirect AAH [CMYK] E AI-01_edited.j

Awards sponsored by

DISTINGUISHED INSTRUCTOR AWARD

Established in 2016, this award aims to recognize teachers who exhibit commitment to teaching, students, and learning through a variety of measures. 

ELIGIBILITY

The award is open to all ACIFA members who instruct at least one course.  Instructors may teach students in any delivery format.  For the purposes of this award, a student is any individual who is enrolled in a credit or non-credit course at an ACIFA institution. Nominations may be submitted for an individual instructor or a group/team.  Nominations must be made by colleagues with he consent of the nominee(s) and must follow the format of the nomination form. 

​

An instructor who receives the award is not eligible again for five (5) years.  An instructor who has been nominated but has not won remains eligible for nomination for the following year. 

AWARD CRITERIA

An instructor may qualify for the Distinguished Instructor Award if they demonstrate commitment to students and learning through a variety of measures:

  • Responds to the individual needs of student in and out of the classroom

  • Promotes a quality, respectful and positive learning environment 

  • Demonstrates effective, inclusive, and engaging instructional strategies that support student success

  • Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of subject mater and strives to keep current in their field of expertise

  • Explores professional development opportunities with interest and enthusiasm

  • Models professional attitudes and values

  • Additional accomplishments or merits worthy of consideration when it comes to post-secondary instruction

Award Recipient Expectations

  • Attend the ACIFA Annual Conference to accept the award and present a conference session

  • Submit a description of their commitment to students and learning for publication across AVIFA communication channels, including newsletter, website, social media and confernce program

  • Provide a Professional headshot and a brief biography for use in ACIFA communications and the conference program 

Winner Awarded:

  • Acknowledgement in the ACIFA Newsletter, website, social media and confernce program

  • $1,500 reward for the recipient and $500 to the recipient's faculty assocaiton, provide by belairdirect

  • Coverage of conference registration, accommodation and travel expenses for the recipient to present on their teach and accept the award at the ACIFA Conference

For more detail information please see Award Nomination Call below.

INNOVATION IN TEACHING AWARD

This award recognizes and encourages the use of innovative and creative teaching methods and design.

ELIGIBILITY

This Award is open to all ACIFA members. The nomination may for an individual or a group/team. Nominations for the award are made by colleagues with the consent of the nominee(s) and must follow the format of the nomination form.

​

Once an instructor has received the award, they are not eligible for reconsideration for five (5) years. An instructor who has been nominated but has not received the award remain eligible, and the nomination may be resubmitted the following year. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Selection of the Innovation in Teaching Award will include consideration of the following criteria:

  • Practical impact on:

    • teaching​

    • learning

    • curriculum design

    • assessment

  • Integration with course or program learning outcomes

  • Transferability to other fields, programs, or institutional contexts

  • Effective and efficient use of resources, if applicable, and education theory

Award Recipient Expectations

  • Attend the ACIFA Annual Conference to accept the award and present a conference session

  • Submit a description of their commitment to learners and learning for publication across ACIFA communication Channels, including the newsletter, website, social media, and conference program 

  • Provide a professional headshot and a brief biography for use in ACIFA communications and the conference program

Winner Awarded:

For more detail information please see Award Nominatnio Call below.

For more detail information please see Award Nomination Call below.

SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING AWARD

Submissions are made by individual members.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Award involves the systematic study of teaching and learning practices.  SoTL projects may use qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, reflective, or practice-based approaches.  Projects may involve collecting and analyzing data, developing or assessing teaching methods, or examining how teaching practices affect students, educators, curriculum, instruction or assessment 

 
Research has the potential to generate genuine and sustained improvements in our college and institutes.  It gives educators new opportunities to reflect on and assess their teaching; to explore and test new ideas, methods, and materials; to assess how effective the new approaches were; to share feedback with colleagues; and to make decisions about which new approaches to include in their curriculum, instruction and assessment plans. 
 

Eligibility

This award is open to all members of the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association (ACIFA).  Applicant for this award must self-nominate since they must commit to do the research. The research project may be proposed or in progress during the current academic year, but it must be completed within two (2) years.

For more detail information please see Call for Applications below.

bottom of page