Outstanding Faculty Award

The Faculty Award was established as part of the Apple Day celebration in the early 1980s and has been through several name changes. In the early 1980's, the Academic Affairs officer of the Student Government Association (SGA) coordinated the nominations and selection.

In March 1986, it was renamed to the Outstanding Faculty Award. Nominations were received from deans, chairmen, and presidents of student organizations. A questionnaire was then sent to chairmen and deans of each nominee asking them to name five significant contributions the nominee made in the areas of instruction, scholarship, service and participation in community and student organizations. The award committee which had instituted and organized the process then evaluated the nominees, selecting three faculty for the award.

During the 2006 Apple Day convocation, Dr. Robert K. Ratzlaff, Vice President for Academic Affairs, was honored for his service to PSU and it was announcement that the award was being named for Dr. Ratzlaff. The Award was first listed as the Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award in the 2007 program.

SGA continues to recognize three faculty members, selected from student and student organization nominees, during Apple Day Convocation for their excellence in instruction and service to students on campus with the Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award medallion.