Nominations are open until Nov. 30 for a prestigious statewide college and university teaching award that since 2008 has included faculty from Central Lakes College in Brainerd and Staples. The Minnesota State College and Universities Board of Trustees Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching is an honor bestowed upon MnSCU faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual professional accomplishment, and to encourage ongoing excellence, in teaching. This award is intended to recognize superior teaching at our colleges and universities. The award proclaims, on behalf of the entire system, the Board of Trustees’ pride in the dedication and accomplishment of our faculty in providing instruction that prepares Minnesota’s college and university students for their professional, scholarly, and civic lives. All faculty who are currently full-time and unlimited, tenured, or tenure-track, and who have at least three years of full-time teaching service at their home institution are eligible for this award. Faculty, however, may not self-nominate. Nominators must be members of the college or university community: faculty, administrators, students, staff, or community members. Faculty who are designated as Outstanding Educators by their campus president must prepare a teaching portfolio which will be reviewed by a systemwide review committee. This committee will recommend the Educator of the Year award winners. This year marks the fifth year of the program. Since 2007, the Board of Trustees has recognized 106 Outstanding Educators and honored 15 faculty as Educators of the Year. Past Central Lakes College recipients: Jan Kurtz, Spanish, 2008; Kari Frisch, speech, 2009; Gary Carson, natural resources, and Janet Bedard, English & reading, 2010. For information or to nominate up to two CLC instructors for the 2011 award, contact Betsy Picciano at (218) 855-8110 or e-mail bpicciano@clcmn.edu