Graduate Student Teaching Award
The GSTA recognizes superlative performance among UF graduate teaching assistants.
Upcoming GSTA Nomination Cycles for 2026-2027
Planning for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 nomination cycles are now in the works.
In the meantime, have questions? Contact us!
Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) make a major impact on teaching and learning at the University of Florida.
Each academic year, the UF Graduate School recognizes the most industrious and innovative among them with the Graduate Student Teaching Awards (GSTA) to acknowledge and applaud their work as instructors in classrooms and laboratories across campus.
The two highest GSTA winners receive the prestigious Calvin A. VanderWerf Award.
All GSTA winners receive a commemorative plaque and monetary prize.
Have questions? Contact us!
- Nominees must teach a full semester and lead at least eight class sessions, with six occurring after the fifth week of classes to allow time for committee observation.
- For an online asynchronous course, the nominee must have at least eight recorded lecture presentations.
- The Graduate Student Teaching Award is department driven. Graduate student teaching assistants are nominated and notified by their academic department.
- The nominating department and student nominee must follow the instructions and complete the forms linked on this webpage.
- During the semester, GSTA Committee members will observe classes without prior notice.
- If you are a GSTA nominee, please report any teaching schedule changes to Dr. Jim Gillepsie at the UF Graduate School through our online contact form.
