The 2003-2004 University Teaching Professors are Paul Biner, professor of psychological science; Kay Hodson-Carlton, professor in the School of Nursing; and Angela Nickoli, assistant professor of criminal justice.  

The award is sponsored by Ball State's Office of Teaching and Learning Advancement along with the Office of the Provost. Students make initial nominations. A panel of students and professors then select the winners after a classroom visit and a course presentation.

The University Teaching Professors are given an opportunity to teach a specially designed "dream course."

Biner's dream course is "Influence, Attitude Change, and Persuasion." Attitude change and influence will be related to phenomena in such areas as marketing, history, management, human resources, economics, sports, political science and economics. The course will outline research on attitude change theories and focus on practical implications of the research.

Hodson-Carlson will teach "Health Information: Untangling the Medical Web." The course explores, describes and analyzes health information available on the World Wide Web, teaching the student to evaluate for legitimate and meaningful information. Students will practice using information literacy skills in a digitally enhanced three-generational family case study. The final class product might take the form of a collaborative class Web page or a presentation to a targeted community group, such as to the senior.net participants at the Muncie Community Center.

Nickoli's course will examine popular culture and its portrayal of the various components of criminal justice. Through an analysis of cartoons, newspaper, magazines, television and film, students will understand how these forms of media can impact social perceptions about victims, offenders and agents of the criminal justice system.