The Provost's Outstanding Academic Advising Award is designed to recognize and reward outstanding contributions made by University of Oklahoma professional and faculty academic advisers who have been determined to have demonstrated the qualities associated with outstanding academic of students. Two $1,500 award may be given annually to Norman Campus academic Advisers.

The Good Teaching Awards Program was introduced by the Standard Oil (Indiana) Foundation in 1966. The purpose of the program is to recognize excellence in teaching performance at the undergraduate level and to provide an incentive to achieve that goal. The University of Oklahoma has participated in the program since 1968. In 1973, the name of the foundation was changed to the AMOCO Foundation, Inc. and was changed to BP Amoco in the late 1990's. In 2003 the award was changed to the Good Teaching Award.

The Merrick Teaching Award shall be given to the faculty member who is considered most outstanding in bringing to students a better understanding and appreciation of the economic and political basis of American society. The citation given shall contain the following wording: "In recognition of outstanding achievement in bringing students a better understanding and appreciation of the American free enterprise system.” 

The Gateway to College Learning Award for Outstanding Teaching was established by the Office of Freshman Programs in University College in the summer of 1997 as an annual cash award of $500 presented to the Gateway instructor who best fulfills the award criteria. In addition, a permanent plaque in University College displays the winner's name and year of award. 

The David Ross Boyd Professorship was approved by the Board of Regents on June 14, 1945 and is named for the first President of the University. The first appointments were effective June 14, 1946. To qualify for a David Ross Boyd Professorship a faculty member must have consistently demonstrated outstanding teaching, guidance, and leadership for students in an academic discipline or in an interdisciplinary program within the University. When the professorship was first established, the policy provided that only two could named in one year and the terms were for five years, though the individuals could be reappointed. The appointments, now, are for life. 

The Regents Professorship was established on November 12, 1943 on action by the University Regents.  The first four appointments were effective January 1, 1944. Upon his retirement from the University in 1968, the Regents named this professorship for George Lynn Cross. The criteria for selection provide: to qualify for a George Lynn Cross Research Professorship a faculty member must have demonstrated outstanding leadership over a period of years in his or her field of learning or creative activity and have been recognized by peers for distinguished contributions to knowledge or distinguished creative work. The appointment is for life. The appointment is for life.

Presidential Professors are those faculty members who excel in all their professional activities and who relate those activities to the students they teach and mentor. These professors inspire their students, mentor their undergraduate and/or graduate students in the process of research and creative activity within their discipline, and exemplify to their students (both past and present) and to their colleagues (both at OU and within their disciplines nationwide) the ideals of a scholar through their endeavors in teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

Recipients of distinguished professorships are deemed to have achieved unusual distinction in teaching and guidance of students, research, or service. To qualify for a Regents' Professorship, a faculty member must have rendered outstanding service to the University, to the academic community, or to an academic or professional discipline, through extraordinary achievement in academic administration or professional service.