Schulenburg receives Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence

Dr. Chris Schulenburg

Dr. Chris Schulenburg, professor of Spanish at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has earned the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. The award is presented annually to a tenure-track or tenured faculty member who has made distinguished contributions to the mission of UW-Platteville.

“I relish receiving the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence because it relies on evidence from the classroom itself,” said Schulenburg. “That is, the committee filmed a class of the three finalists in order to see what an actual class looks like from an outside observer. In the end, no one really knows how professors teach unless they choose to visit our classes. The fact that this award reflects a real class means everything to me.”

“Every year since he arrived at UW-Platteville, Dr. Schulenburg has exceeded expectations for his teaching,” said Dr. Shane Drefcinski, professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Humanities at UW-Platteville. “His classes are lively and engaging. He conducts them exclusively in Spanish and he is very demanding. I witnessed firsthand that his students must remain alert because he is constantly peppering them with questions about the course material. He is an exceptionally good teacher who is very deserving of this special award.”

Schulenburg’s teaching philosophy focuses on how the Spanish language impacts students’ lives. “From language to literature classes, the material means very little if students are not engaged and recognizing the language's relevance to them,” he said.

He also seeks to create an active teaching environment. “Students need to speak and present daily, with my work concentrating on how to give them context for their in-class activities,” he said. “The students should actually use the language to thrive in class.”

“Teaching demands flexibility and the ability to change,” added Schulenburg. “I could not exist without a fluid work environment, because I lack any kind of attention span. Each day should offer some predictable moments for students to anticipate, but I treasure the surprises awaiting us in a productive class. I want my on-campus classes to defy the power point-centered, formulaic course; spontaneity is so important at any level of education.”

Criteria for the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence include:

  • Excellent student evaluations of instruction in a variety of courses from the last three years
  • Recognition of excellence in instruction by one's peers within the university
  • Recognition of excellence in teaching materials, curriculum, teaching techniques and strategies by one's peers
  • Development of teaching methods, materials and activities that are shared with peers to assist in their teaching activities for teaching improvement

Schulenburg, who began teaching at UW-Platteville in 2007, will receive a recognition plaque and $1,000, and be recognized at the university’s convocation on Thursday, Aug. 29.

In addition to the Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, he has received a UW System faculty fellowship, the College of Liberal Arts and Education’s Excellence in Professional Development Award and Teaching Excellence Award and Phi Kappa Phi’s Outstanding Educator Award.