Endowment Awards

During his tenure, former President Dr. Shouan Pan, in collaboration with the Office of Development and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, began efforts to create an endowed teaching program at MCC with the vision to recognize and reward excellence in teaching and learning. In 2012, the Title III Grant: Foundations for Student Success, with philanthropic matching funds, created an additional award that supports developmental instruction. 

The Endowed Teaching Chair recognizes teaching excellence through a multi-year award to individual faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning.

The purpose of the Endowed Teaching Award Programs are to:

• Demonstrate MCC’s commitment to quality instruction.
• Recognize and celebrate faculty excellence in world-class instruction.
• Provide funding for professional growth opportunities.
• Provide funding for programmatic related support of faculty teaching developmental education.

The goals of the program are to:

1. Provide a formal method for recognizing faculty excellence in teaching.
2. Promote effective learning in the classroom or academic setting.
3. Strengthen MCC’s reputation for quality instruction.
4. Promote the connection between community and college.
5. Build a culture of appreciation for quality teaching and learning with local business leaders, elected officials, college employees, and students.

All residential faculty members are eligible to be nominated for the Chair award.  Each cycle the awards are determined by the available funding. Cash payments are awarded each cycle and may be used at the discretion of the recipient. The award is a cash payment made directly to the faculty.

Adjunct faculty members, with at least two years of teaching experience at MCC, can participate in the Adjunct Faculty/OSO/OYO program. Each adjunct faculty member selected receives a cash award that may be used at the discretion of the recipient. The award is a cash payment made directly to the faculty and is subject to available funds.

Award Programs

Endowed Teaching Chair Award

The Endowed Teaching Chair Award offers three award programs to recognize faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning, quality instruction, and engagement in innovative and effective teaching practices.

The Drs. Ken and Rebecca Boren Endowed Teaching Chair Award is for recognizing faculty who are nominated for the award by demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning. In its inaugural year, spring 2024, two Residential faculty were awarded $10,000, to be paid over a two-year period. (Cash payments are generally awarded evenly each year.) The funds may be used at the discretion of the recipient, a portion may be used at any time during the two-year award period for professional development activities, course equipment, and supplies; the balance of the award is a cash payment made directly to the faculty.

The Mesa Community College Endowed Teaching Chair Award, is for recognizing faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning. The spring 2024, Residential faculty award was $10,000, to be paid over a two year period. The Adjunct faculty award was for $2,000 paid over a two year period. (Cash payments are generally awarded evenly each year and may be used at the discretion of the recipient.)

The Mesa Community College Developmental Education Endowment. See next section for details.

Developmental Education Endowed Teaching Award

“The purpose of this endowment is to provide funding for professional growth opportunities and programmatic related support of faculty (residential and adjunct) teaching developmental education courses appertaining to the subject matters of math, reading, and English at Mesa Community College.” –Developmental Education Endowment Agreement

The Developmental Education Endowment continues the work of the Title III grant by providing funds for professional growth and programmatic support for faculty teaching developmental education. This award recognizes the essential work of developmental educators. All faculty teaching developmental education courses in the English, Math, or Reading Departments are eligible for this award. Specifically, faculty who teach the following developmental courses: ALT100, ENG101LL/ENG107LL, MAT081, MAT091, MAT126, MAT146, MAT156, and RDG100. The eligible award amount is a one-time payment. The award(s) may range between $500-$5,000 depending on fund availability.

Award Comparisons

Conditions of Award

Recipients forfeit their stipends if…

• The award recipient moves from an instruction position to an administrative position during the term of the award.
• The faculty member leaves the college.