Business professor, Dr. Randy Boyle was selected as the recipient of the fifth - annual Excellence in Education Award.  The award is sponsored by the Salt Lake University Institute of Religion and is given by University of Utah students enrolled in institute classes.

The Excellence in Education award was established to connect the Institute of Religion with campus.  The award recognizes a University of Utah professor who has had an impact on the lives of students and demonstrates exceptional teaching skills.

This year more than 500 ballots were cast, which included nominations for some 100 professors. According to Mike Query, a student member of the institute's campus relations committee, there were several other candidates who received a similar number of votes as Dr. Boyle.  Query said, “In deciding the award the committee first looks at the number of votes for each professor and then we consider the comments students provide on the nomination as a way to differentiate the winner.”

Student nominations are the only criteria considered for the award.  Religion is not considered in the selection process.  Allan Gunnerson, institute director, said, “We just want to recognize when a teacher stands out and puts time into relationships with students.”

Grant Hansen a senior in business information systems expressed, “There is no one more deserving,” and offered the following about Dr. Boyle; “He cares about his students above and beyond his job description.”

Query said all student comments about Dr. Boyle echoed the sentiment of going above and beyond.  One student cited the fact that he knows every student by name the first day of class.  Another stated that his door is always open for student help.  Several students stated they changed their major to Information Systems (IS) and now want to pursue a career in computers as a result of Dr. Boyle’s class.

Dr. Randy Boyle teaches security and computer networking classes as part of the Operations and Information Systems department at the David Eccles School of Business.   He is the Director of the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program at the University of Utah.  He received his Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Florida State University in 2003.

Don Wardell, the chair of the OIS department said, “The success of the (OIS) department is largely due to the relationship Dr. Boyle develops with students. He attracts students to our programs.”  The programs Wardell refers to include the IS undergrad, one of the fastest growing programs at the business school and the Master’s Degree in Information Systems (MSIS), a program recently approved by the university.

After accepting the award, Dr. Boyle thanked his wife and mentors for support and also acknowledged the recognition from students.  “Students are the ultimate judge of a teacher’s quality.  To receive an award that is selected entirely by students, means a great deal to me.”

The institute’s Excellence in Education Award began in 2004.  Past recipients of the award include Dan Jones, Mark Nielson, Glenn Richardson and Gregory Owens.

Dr. Randy Boyle
Professor of Information Systems

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The Daily Utah Chronicle