V-P academic wins national teaching award

UVic’s vice-president academic and provost is one of only 10 Canadian university educators named as this year's 3M Teaching Fellows.

Jamie Cassels, a member of UVic’s faculty of law since 1981 and former dean of law, is being recognized for his exceptional educational leadership and his commitment to the improvement of university teaching across disciplines. 3M Fellowships are considered Canada's premier teaching award.

“It’s wonderful to be recognized for being good at something that you both enjoy doing and feel is important,”says Cassels. “I think it's also a result of the support that I’ve always received from my colleagues and from the university.”

“I’m thrilled that Jamie’s teaching excellence is being recognized with this award," says UVic President Dr. David Turpin. “It is especially significant that the award goes to our vice-president academic and provost. This is symbolic of the values UVic places on teaching and learning.”

This isn't the first time Cassels has been recognized for his teaching excellence. He won the 1999 Canadian Association of Law Teachers Award for Academic Excellence, the 1998 UVic Alumni Association’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and the law faculty's 1986 and 1996 Master Teacher Award.

During his tenure as law dean, Cassels helped maintain the faculty's reputation as one of Canada's top law schools, praised for its faculty members’ open door policy. He was named vice-president academic in August, 2001.

The 3M Fellowship goes to individuals who not only excel in the teaching of their own courses, but who also demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of leadership and commitment to the improvement of university teaching across disciplines. Other UVic winners include sociologist Holly Devor and chemist David Berry (both in 2000), English professor Thomas Cleary (1994), art historian Elizabeth Tumasonis (1992), English professor Connie Rooke (1987) and social work professor Andy Farquharson (1986).