Criteria for membership:

Membership is expected to be broadly based and inclusive of individuals from the medical school, graduate school, and health professions school.

1. Nominations for Academy Membership by Department Chairs and Academy Members.
2. Members must be faculty with at least 3 years of teaching activities at UT Southwestern.
3. Membership is based on sustained excellence in at least one of five categories:
   
4. • Teaching
   • Instructional development and curricular design
   • Advising and mentoring
   • Educational administration and leadership
   • Educational research
     
5. Candidates for membership prepare a portfolio demonstrating consistent outstanding contributions in one or more of the above categories.
6. Personal Statement (includes a discussion of the candidate's educational philosophy, a discussion of the candidate's professional development efforts in education, & intended contributions to the Academy and the School as an Academy member).
7. Substantive letter of support from the applicant's Chair.
8. Distinct supporting material for one or more of the above categories.

Founding members:

1. Nominated by the department chairs.
2. Selected by a special committee (Deans and Associate Deans of Education from each of the schools).
3. Limited to  12 members.
4. Expected that the founding members would meet the criteria for membership.

From: Preliminary Charter, UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers (SWAT) 10-05-05