Mission & Vision
Mission – The Thank-a-Professor program facilitates opportunities for students to express gratitude and recognize faculty who encourage their success through exceptional mentorship, expertise, and care.
Vision – The Thank-a-Professor program cultivates a culture of gratitude where every faculty member is recognized and celebrated for transforming students’ lives through excellence in teaching, mentoring, and community-building.
About the Program
Eastern Kentucky University’s Thank-a-Professor program provides students with the opportunity to send a brief “thank you” note to faculty who made a difference in their educational experience at EKU. This program recognizes EKU faculty for enriching students’ lives, encouraging them to learn a subject, or motivating them to learn (or learn in a new way).
Student thank you notes highlight several areas that made a significant impact on students this fall:
About the Process
Each fall semester, students are invited via a brief online survey via Slate to let that professor—and the EKU community—know about this success by sharing a simple “thanks” or relate a short anecdote or example to let that professor know what the student valued and why it was important. The Thank a Professor ceremony is held in November of each fall and recognizes faculty for their outstanding efforts in educating and supporting students.
Thank-a-Professor Awards
In 2025, two inaugural Thank-a-Professor awards recognized instructors who have made a meaningful difference in the experiences of EKU students through kindness, caring, helpfulness, mentorship, and expertise.
Past Winners
2026 Thank-a-Professor Steering Committee
Thank a Professor Form
Contact
Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning
fctl@eku.edu