Briefly

S.L. institute honors U. information systems professor for excellence

The Salt Lake University Institute of Religion has honored University of Utah information systems professor Randall Boyle as the 2009 recipient of the Excellence in Education Award. The award winner is determined by nominations from University of Utah students enrolled in institute classes.

Unlike many teaching awards, the Excellence in Education Award has few requirements. Students simply nominate teachers who have had an impact on their lives and who they believe possess exceptional teaching skills.

Boyle, who teaches classes on networking and computer security, said he is honored to have won the award, given on Friday, because there are "so many high-quality faculty members at the university who the (award) could have easily gone to."

Tyler Carruth, a U. student from Sandy who took a business class from Boyle, said he is a great teacher because he tries to make a personal connection with every student.

"(Professor Boyle) pushes his students to do their best," Caruth said during the awards ceremony. "Because they feel personal attention from him, they perform better."

Grant Hansen, a U. student from West Jordan, echoed the feelings of Carruth that Boyle is successful because he puts an emphasis on personal relationships with students, not just class work.

"Any teacher can teach and know a lot about their subject, but he goes above and beyond," he said. "He really cares about his students."

The award has been given annually to a University of Utah professor since 2004. The teacher who receives the award does not necessarily have to be a member of the LDS Church, according to Allan Gunnerson, institute director.

"(The institute) wants to recognize good teachers, whether they be LDS or not. ... (Award winners) come from many disciplines and backgrounds," Gunnerson said. "We just want to recognize when a teacher stands out and puts time into relationships with students."

Boyle, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served a mission in Warsaw, Poland. He received his doctorate in management information systems from Florida State University in 2003. He spent time teaching in both Florida and Alabama before joining the faculty of the University of Utah in 2005.

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