Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements 

Candidates for this award must hold adjunct faculty positions in relevant academic programs and demonstrate a measurable impact on student development. While specific curricular and mentorship achievements are evaluated during the nomination review process, the core requirement remains active engagement as an adjunct professor in health law or health policy education. AHLA encourages nominations that reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our educational community. 

+Excellence in Adjunct Teaching Award Recipients

Nomination Criteria 

• Adjunct professors of JD, LLM, and health-related ML programs and/or adjunct professors teaching health law or health policy in health-related graduate programs are eligible. 
• The nominee’s development of a health law/health policy curricula expands students’ knowledge of the health care industry and health law/policy. 
• The nominee has shown a significant commitment to student counseling, mentoring, and teaching. The length of time in which the nominee has been an adjunct professor is not a factor for consideration, as AHLA realizes that new and veteran adjuncts alike can be outstanding in their commitment to teaching students. 

Nomination Process 

This award requires nomination by a student and/or faculty colleague; self-nominations are not accepted. Nominators must provide a 500-1,000 word statement explaining why they are recommending the candidate. Submission of the adjunct professor's syllabus and/or curricula is encouraged to strengthen the nomination. 

Nominations should cover the previous academic cycle, including the summer session and consecutive traditional academic year (fall and spring semesters, or fall, winter, and spring quarters). Nominations are evaluated following the completion of the spring term each year. 

Nominations are accepted year-round. The Review Period occurs in September each year. Nominations submitted during the Review Period will automatically be considered for the following year's award cycle. 

Selection Process 

A dedicated judging panel evaluates all submissions using a scoring rubric based on the established criteria. Panel members commit to thoroughly reviewing applications, participating in virtual consensus meetings, and maintaining objectivity by disclosing any potential conflicts of interest. This structured review process ensures consistent and fair assessment of each candidate's contributions to both AHLA and the health law profession. 

An individual appointed to serve on the judging panel is not eligible to be considered for the Award while they serve on the panel. To ensure focused attention, members may serve on only one judging panel at a time. The recipient is honored during the Association’s Health Law Week in January.