UW-Green Bay History program selected to receive the 2018 Regents Teaching Award

Green Bay, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay History program has received the University of Wisconsin 2018 annual Regents Teaching Excellence Award (in the department/program category). Watch the video of the award presentation.

“This is quite an honor,” said UW-Green Bay Prof. Heidi Sherman, Chair of the History program. “Every year, each of the 13 University of Wisconsin schools nominates one academic department in any teaching field for this award, and one department of the 13 nominees is chosen. To be selected for this award among such a strong group of nominees means a lot to us and our students.”

The award letter referred to the program’s impressive dedication to teaching…

“UW-Green Bay History was selected from among a select group of candidates, all of whom demonstrated an impressive dedication to teaching and an ability to inspire students with an enthusiasm for learning in general and for making interdisciplinary connections in the classroom and beyond,” the letter stated.

The nomination was strong, citing…

• Interdisciplinary structure of the unit with 12 faculty members offering a view of history from multiple perspectives
• High-impact offerings to students, particularly in applied learning and community engagement
• Dedication to the scholarship of teaching — of the 12 members of the history faculty, 10 have participated in year-long Scholarship of Teaching and Learning program (SoTL) programs — either the UW-Green Bay Teaching Scholars or the UW System Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars (or both). Through these programs, the faculty have worked with a cohort to discuss best practices in teaching and to carry out a research project on their own students’ learning. Further, Profs. Greg Aldrete and Clif Ganyard have won the University of Wisconsin System Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching.
• Digital learning and instruction — Members of the history faculty have piloted and applied many new technologies for teaching, including blogging, classroom response systems (“clickers”), Second Life (virtual reality), podcasting, Twitter re-enactment, online cataloging (Omeka), digital animation, and film-making.
• Experiential Archaeology — In this hands-on history approach, students learn about the past by trying to replicate how things were done in the ancient and medieval world. UW-Green Bay has an international reputation in this field, with Prof. Greg Aldrete’s reconstruction and testing of the Linothorax, the linen armor worn by Alexander the Great and his army; Prof. Sherman’s five-year “Flax Project”; and “the UWGB Viking House,” which is a reconstruction of a 1,000-year old grindbygg (Norwegian trestle-frame construction) donated to and rebuilt on campus in the fall of 2017.
• Internship growth — Over the past several years, a growing number of history majors are pursuing internships. In 2011-12, 24% of graduating History majors held an internship. In 2016-17, the number had grown to 43% offsite internships.

The recognition comes with a $5,000 stipend to be used for professional/and or program development activities that you believe will enhance the work of your department. The award will officially be presented at the June 8, 2018 Board of regents meeting at UW-Milwaukee.

“UW-Green Bay’s History program has long pioneered experimentation, hands-on learning and teaching excellence,” said the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Chuck Rybak.  “I am thrilled they have received this prestigious award, as it expands the reach and recognition of the work I have the privilege to see up close every day.”

About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs to 7,158 students. The University transforms lives and communities through exceptional and award-winning teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities and a problem-solving approach to education. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.