A professor who has a love for teaching is not uncommon, but one who has a great passion for general education can be rare.

A subcommittee of the Council on Academic Affairs is now accepting nominations until March 27 for the 2009 Professor Laureate. The professor must teach full-time and show great interest in general education.

The Professor Laureate should be a professor who has shown commitment and dedication in general education classes.

The award is made for a faculty member who shows great excellence and passion in teaching general education classes, along with other classes, said Grant Sterling, professor of philosophy and chair of the subcommittee.

The Professor Laureate should be someone who tries to teach the subject to the entire student body, he said.

Every year at Convocation the Professor Laureate addresses incoming students about the significance of general education and their beliefs on why general education is important.

The Convocation speech is the most important part of the honor, Sterling said.

Melinda Mueller, 2008 Professor Laureate and political science professor, said giving the speech was exciting and nerve wracking, yet rewarding. To every professor, the reasons why general education is important may be different.

Mueller said general education is important because it helps critical thinking, writing and students are more understanding of others.

The committee will look at teaching evaluations, student evaluations, three supporting letters, one of which should be a person who has observed the nominee in a teaching setting involving undergraduates, and a letter of nomination.

The nominee will also have to submit a 300-word essay on their views about the value of general education, a summary of recent teaching evaluations and a list of courses taught recently, which will also be looked at during the award process.

Nominations and supporting materials are due to Sterling in Coleman Hall Room 3531 by 4 p.m. on March 27.

Kristin Jording can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.