The GEM Innovative Educator Award honors faculty members that demonstrate their passion and craft in advancing the skills, knowledge, and interests of students through general education courses. Through this award, Idaho’s State Board of Education, the statewide General Education Committee, and general education faculty formally recognize the work of educators who help non-majors understand and broadly apply disciplinary methods of inquiry (ways of knowing) and engage students with innovative teaching practices to build durable skills that students will use in college and beyond. This year’s GEM Awards will focus on highlighting faculty who help non-majors understand and apply the ways of knowing in their course(s). In addition, the award also seeks to recognize faculty who use High Impact Practices in their course(s) or activities that prepare students for high impact practices later in their academic career. These awards also acknowledge faculty commitment to general education as well as those who actively work to ameliorate issues of educational access and affordability through Open Education Practices. Campuses send nominees’ materials to the Office of the State Board by April 4, 2025.
Eligibility
Full- and part-time general education faculty from any public Idaho college or university may apply. Because many excellent educators support general education in Idaho, past awardees will not be considered for awards. Past nominees who have not won the GEM Innovative Educator Award are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Review the official call for nominations for a list of required application information/materials as well as a rubric to guide the evaluation of materials.