Student Choice Awards voting opens

Students can now show their favorite professors their appreciation by voting for them in the 2009 Student Choice Awards. Voting is open online and at locations throughout campus until March 10.

The Student Alumni Association presents the awards annually to four outstanding faculty members chosen by the student body. For faculty to be eligible, they must have taught six hours for four of the last six semesters for a minimum of three years on the Bloomington campus. They must have also not won in the last five years.

If selected, professors are awarded a trophy or plaque at the recognition banquet. But Steve Blomeke, director of Outreach for the SAA, said all professors are alerted if they receive votes, and that they appreciate being recognized.

“Our professors put a lot of time into teaching all the students here,” Blomeke said. “They put a lot of hard work into making sure courses they teach are preparing us for future jobs. This is a nice way to show them we appreciate what they are doing.”

History professor James Madison was selected as a 2008 winner of the Student Choice Awards. He said the feeling of being honored by his own students was better than any other award he has received at the IU.

“I don’t know that students are the only judge of good teaching, but certainly a student voice in that process is very important and essential,” Madison said.

He said the award means a lot to him because the students themselves were the people who voted for him.

“If students conclude a professor is an excellent teacher, I am just delighted,” Madison said.

Freshman Adrianna Darwish said she would definitely vote for one of her professors.

Although she said it is difficult to get to know professors in some large lecture classes, she appreciates that they try to make class entertaining and interact with the students.

“There are some teachers who stand out and who go above and beyond what they have to do to teach the material,” Darwish said.

Students can vote online at the Student Alumni Association Web site at http://alumni.indiana.edu/saa/studentChoice.shtml. Ballots will also be available in the residence halls, the Indiana Memorial Union and the Herman B Wells Library.

Blomeke encouraged all students to vote for their favorite professors.

“It really doesn’t take that much time to vote,” Blomeke said. “And everyone that’s won an award or notified if they were voted for really appreciate it.”