December 10 - Almanac, Vol. Criteria and Guidelines for Lindback Awards for Distinguished Teaching 1. The Lindback Awards are given in recognition of distinguished teaching. The distinguished teacher has the capability of changing the way in which students view the subject they are studying. The distinguished teacher is fair, free from prejudice, and single-minded in the pursuit of truth.
Distinguished teaching means different things in different fields.
Skillful direction of dissertation students, effective supervision of student researchers, ability to organize a large course of many sections, skill in leading seminars, special talent with large classes. Ability to handle discussions or to structure lectures-these are all relevant attributes, although it is unlikely that anyone will excel in all of them. It is not enough to look solely at letters of recommendation from students. Rather, all of these factors and more, should enter into the identification and assessment of distinguished teaching. The Lindback Awards have a symbolic importance that transcends the recognition of individual merit.