Skip to Main Content
Boston University
  • Bostonia
  • BU Today
  • The Brink
  • University Publications

    • Bostonia
    • BU Today
    • The Brink
  • School & College Publications

    • The Record
Other Publications
BU Today
  • Sections
News, Opinion, Community

Finding BU

Deadline nears for 2008 Metcalf award nominations


Click on the photos above to hear audio from Jeffrey Beatty, Eric Widmaier, and Penelope Bitzas.

Students afraid that law classes are going to be “dull and stuffy” may be misunderstanding what law is really about, says Jeffrey Beatty, a School of Management associate professor of strategy and policy: “People, and people in conflict,” he says. “That’s what makes drama.”

Beatty’s engaging teaching style, which includes his staging mini-dramas and fictional disputes in his classroom, won him the 2007 Metcalf Cup and Prize for Excellence in Teaching, the University’s highest teaching honor. Students who nominated Beatty cited his “commitment to students” both inside and outside the classroom, whether cheering the crew team from the banks of the Charles River or holding late-night office hours to answer questions about an upcoming exam. Last year’s other Metcalf awardees were Penelope Bitzas, a College of Fine Arts school of music associate professor of voice, and Eric Widmaier, a College of Arts and Sciences professor and chair of biology.

Now, the provost’s office is seeking nominations for the 2008 awards, which include the Metcalf Cup and Prize and the Metcalf Awards. Established in 1973 with a gift from the late Arthur G. B. Metcalf (SED’35, Hon.’74), a trustee and board chairman emeritus, the awards are for “the review of the quality of teaching at Boston University and the identification and advancement of those members of the faculty who excel as teachers.” This year’s nomination deadline for the 2008 awards is October 16, and students and faculty have already submitted several candidates.

The selection committee is made up of five past Metcalf winners, along with two undergraduates and a University administrator. During the academic year, the committee will vet the 2008 candidates, looking for mastery of subject matter, engaging classroom presentations, and thorough evaluation of student work.

“These are the best teachers looking for more of the best teachers,” says Assistant Provost Michael Field.

The committee also requests statements from the nominees, asking them to describe their teaching philosophy, and reviews the student evaluations and grading patterns, considers syllabi and assignments, and solicits additional letters of recommendation from current and former students. Committee members will visit the finalists’ classes and will present their recommendations to University President Robert A. Brown in the spring. The Metcalf Cup comes with a prize of $10,000 and the Metcalf Awards with $5,000 each.

For more information about the Metcalf Committee, click here.
To find out how to submit a letter of recommendation, click here.

Chris Berdik can be reached at cberdik@bu.edu.

Explore Related Topics:

  • Awards
  • Faculty
  • Share this story

Share

Finding BU

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Chris Berdik

    Chris Berdik Profile

Latest from BU Today

  • Things-to-do

    Our List of Outdoor Concerts to Enjoy This Summer

  • Arts & Culture

    This CFA Student Is Using Art to Help Medical Patients

  • Film & TV

    Why Do We Keep Watching Reality Dating Shows?

  • University News

    Boston University Announces Budget Cuts, Layoffs Amid Financial Pressures

  • Social Media

    COM Class Teaches Students How to Promote Their Content Online

  • Things-to-do

    How to Spend the July Fourth Weekend in Boston

  • Things-to-do

    Best Places to Watch Fireworks in Boston This Fourth of July

  • 25 Charles River Campus Faculty Receive Promotions

  • Books

    With Summer Officially Here, 10 Great Beach Reads

  • Things-to-do

    Want to Beat the Summer Heat? Check Out One of the Boston Area’s Many Public Pools

  • Business & Law

    BU Legal Scholars Assess Supreme Court Ruling Limiting Nationwide Injunctions

  • Film & TV

    Learning Through Screen Time

  • University News

    Boston University to Seek External Recommendations for Athletics Policies and Practices

  • University News

    BU’s Jack Parker Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame

  • BU Soundcheck

    BU Soundcheck: Ronona J

  • Film & TV

    COM Students Win New England Emmy Award for 2024 BUTV10 Election Coverage

  • Watch Now

    How BU’s Lawns Can Help Reduce Carbon Emissions

  • Awards

    Meet BU’s Newest Fulbright Recipients

  • Entertainment

    Where to Watch Free Movies Outdoors All Summer Long

  • University News

    BU Opens Cooling Stations as First Heat Wave of the Season Arrives

Section navigation

  • Sections
  • Must Reads
  • Videos
  • Series
  • Close-ups
  • Archives
  • About + Contact
Get Our Email

Explore Our Publications

Bostonia

Boston University’s Alumni Magazine

BU Today

News, Opinion, Community

The Brink

Pioneering Research from Boston University

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Weibo
  • TikTok
© Boston University. All rights reserved. www.bu.edu
© 2025 Trustees of Boston UniversityPrivacy StatementAccessibility
Boston University
Notice of Non-Discrimination: Boston University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex or gender, age, national origin, ethnicity, shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, military service, marital, parental, veteran status, or any other legally protected status in any and all educational programs or activities operated by Boston University. Retaliation is also prohibited. Please refer questions or concerns about Title IX, discrimination based on any other status protected by law or BU policy, or retaliation to Boston University’s Executive Director of Equal Opportunity/Title IX Coordinator, at titleix@bu.edu or (617) 358-1796. Read Boston University’s full Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Search
Boston University Masterplate
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Finding BU
0
share this