Advancing excellence across UTMB's core missions is a central institutional priority. For nearly two decades, UTMB's academies served as a primary means of honoring faculty who exemplify that excellence. The Academy of Master Teachers, established in 2007, was created as an honorific and service-oriented program to recognize outstanding contributions to the educational mission. The Academy of Research Mentors extended that recognition to the mentorship of the next generation of scientists.
Building on the legacies of both academies while preserving their traditions of recognition and service, the Office of Faculty Development is excited to announce the launch of the UTMB Academy of Excellence. The new Academy brings these efforts under a single umbrella — standardizing structure, aligning programmatic offerings, expectations, and membership, and centralizing and enhancing resources and governance so that faculty across the education and research missions are supported through one coherent, well-resourced framework.
The Academy is an evolved, comprehensive framework designed to optimize, cultivate, and celebrate faculty engagement and growth, innovation, and professional advancement along the entire career continuum for educators and researchers. Maintaining the "Academy" designation reflects our commitment, your contributions, and our shared values:
- A collaborative, mission-driven community dedicated to advancing academic excellence in education and research.
- Respect for legacy contributions and the faculty who made them.
- An enduring commitment to community, collaboration, recognition, advancement, and service.
Membership will be structured in progressive levels, with advancement based on demonstrated contribution, impact, and engagement. Faculty from all schools will be supported across the continuum — from those establishing their academic careers to those whose influence has shaped the institution. With four domains — Discovery, Teaching & Learning, Mentorship & Sponsorship, and Leadership & Service — the Academy aligns with the pathways used in appointment, promotion, and tenure review.
Over the coming months, we will continue to engage faculty and institutional stakeholders to develop membership structures, participation expectations, recognition pathways, and opportunities for faculty within the Academy of Excellence.