Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching

Date: October 9, 2020
To: Caltech Community
From: David Tirrell, Provost
Subject: Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching

I am pleased to solicit nominations for the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. The Feynman Prize is endowed through the generosity of Ione and Robert E. Paradise, with additional contributions from a local anonymous couple, to honor annually a professor who demonstrates, in the broadest sense, unusual ability, creativity, and innovation in undergraduate and graduate classroom or laboratory teaching.

Nominations for the Feynman Teaching Prize are welcome from all members of the Caltech community, including faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and alumni. Guidelines for the prize are included below.  Please submit detailed nomination packages to the Provost's Office by December 11, 2020. 

CRITERIA FOR THE PRIZE
The Richard P. Feynman Prize in teaching is to be awarded annually to a professor who demonstrates unusual talent, creativity, innovation, and an ability to create an inclusive learning environment in undergraduate and graduate classroom or laboratory teaching.

ORIGIN OF THE PRIZE
Established in 1993, the annual prize is made possible by a gift of endowment by Ione and Robert E. Paradise, with additional contributions from a local anonymous couple, in appreciation of Richard Feynman's contributions to excellent teaching.

TERMS OF THE PRIZE
The prize consists of a cash award of $3,500, matched by an equivalent raise in the annual salary of the awardee.

ELIGIBILITY
All active tenured and tenure-track professorial faculty of the Institute are eligible.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE PRIZE
Nomination packages are due by December 11, 2020. Nominations for the Feynman Prize may be made by any member of the Caltech community, including faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, alumni, and staff.  Nomination packages should include a letter of nomination of no more than 750 words with up to five additional letters from students and colleagues of no more than 500 words. Supporting material, such as a curriculum vitae and course syllabus or description, can also be included. Nomination packages should be emailed to [email protected], with Feynman Prize Nomination in the subject line.

RENOMINATIONS
Renominations should conform to the guidelines for nominations.  Nominees not selected in a given year will be considered part of the nomination pool for each of the following two years.  Consideration of a nominee after three years will require renomination.

SELECTION
Selection of the recipient will be made by a committee appointed by the Provost.  The committee chair and members will be rotated frequently in order to ensure broad representation across the Institute.  The committee will consist of at least three professorial faculty, a vice provost, and one representative each from the undergraduate student body and the graduate student body.  The director for the Center for teaching, learning, and outreach will serve as an ex-officio member.

PRESENTATION OF THE PRIZE
The Feynman Prize will be presented at a regular meeting of the Caltech faculty in the second term.  In addition, the awardee will be honored at a small celebratory dinner or other suitable event with a few colleagues and members of the administration, and the donors of the prize.

FORMER FEYNMAN TEACHING PRIZE RECIPIENTS
Please see the following url for a complete list: https://provost.caltech.edu/FeynmanTeachingPrize