Montana Sunday
Over the last few years, a new word has entered the vocabulary of Albany students: LOTY. To the uninitiated LOTY (pronounced “Lottie”) is the acronym for the Lecturer of the Year poll operated by the Albany Student’s Association to find the lecturer that students believe has contributed the most to learning in that year.
Qualities such as enthusiasm, giving good feedback, promoting the exchange of ideas, being approachable, delivering interesting, stimulating and sometimes entertaining lectures are all good reasons for teaching staff to be nominated.
LOTY was launched in 2005 (with Dr Chris Scogings, IIMS, taking the title) and the poll has snowballed in popularity since then with 73 staff nominations being received in 2006 (winner Mark Werman, Commerce), 95 in 2007 (winner Dr Felix Ram, Health Sciences), and an amazing 109 staff nominated in 2008, with Dr Felix Ram taking the title once more
Despite numerous attempts and bribes to get ASA Advocacy Coordinator Penny Lyall (who manages the poll from her reinforced bunker on the Oteha Rohe campus) to leak information to desperate students keen to see ‘their’ lecturer win, a well placed source has informed Satellite that to date this hasn’t happened.
The LOTY winner is not revealed until November when a presentation lunch is held and each nominee is presented with a Certificate of Recognition comprising of a compilation of positive comments made by students.
The LOTY poll has drawn criticism from some quarters (especially the IIMS geeks) for its lack of scientific and mathematical accuracy. Ms Lyall however is unrepentant: “It’s a numbers game. Most votes wins. Simple. If you want someone to win get out there and lobby on their behalf.”
Forms can be picked up and returned to ASA Atrium Office or Building 90 Oteha campus. You may nominate more than one lecturer however you can only submit one vote per nominee. Nominations close 16th Oct 2009.