Categories
These five awards have been developed to recognize University of Chicago VPDoS staff members who have made a valuable and much appreciated impact on university life, whether through their interactions with students or faculty, or through the development of new systems, policies and programs. When nominating individuals for these awards, please carefully consider how your nominee has made a positive and lasting impact on the university.
Innovation Award
This award is given to a staff member who has generated novel and valuable ideas and used these ideas to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, programs or services. The award recognizes creative ideas that have improved the university and have made U of C a better place to live and work.
Criteria
Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Worked to improve any area of the university’s operations (from academics to athletics, campus life to systems).
- Identified creative solutions, large or small in scope, that have made a significant and positive difference.
- Suggested new ways to improve the quality of services or programming.
- Identified novel approaches for completing work more effectively or efficiently.
- Identified new ideas, solutions, or directions.
- Worked to develop new approaches when problem solving; sought ideas or suggestions from others as appropriate.
- Planned effectively for the successful implementation and long-term success of new services, systems or programming.
Outstanding Newcomer Award
This award is given to an outstanding staff member who has worked at least 6 months but no more than 3 years in their current office/department in the VPDoS division (from initial date of hire).
Criteria
Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Demonstrates excellence in overall job performance.
- Provides outstanding service to their specific department or division.
- Makes significant contributions to department or division in presentations, committee work, or projects.
- Shows willingness to assist beyond normal expectations.
- Demonstrates dedication to the profession.
- Shows initiative and/or creativity in his or her work.
- Promotes an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation.
Outstanding Service to Students Award
This award is presented to the staff member that has provided outstanding service to individual students or student groups on a consistent basis, whether through personal advising, development of programs, or improvements to university systems and policies that affect students.
Criteria
Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Commitment to identifying customers’ needs or expectations and reacting appropriately to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Consideration of the impact on the customer when taking action, setting policies or carrying out tasks.
- Familiarity with university policies and procedures that define or influence customers’ needs and a commitment to educating customers about these policies.
- Ability to involve customers in decision-making or problem-solving processes as early as possible.
- Creativity in seeking ways to provide or improve services that may increase efficiency and decrease cost.
- Willingness to refer customers to an appropriate department or employee to solve specific challenges; and to perform appropriate follow-up as needed with customer to ensure that their issue/concern has been resolved.
- Dedication to continuously improve customer satisfaction and remove barriers to outstanding customer service.
Outstanding Service to the University Community
This award is given to a staff member who has demonstrated concern and commitment to fulfill needs and ensure satisfaction when providing services to members of the University community. University community members can be defined as the university's many constituents, including co-workers, peers, managers, as well as students, parents, faculty, alumni and community members.
Criteria
Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Identification of and appropriate reaction to the needs and expectations of members of the University community to ensure satisfactory service.
- Consideration of the impact on the University community when taking action, setting policies or carrying out tasks.
- Familiarity with University policies and procedures and their impact on the University community, coupled with commitment and ability to educate the community about these policies.
- Involvement of constituents (as applicable) in the decision-making or problem-solving process as early as possible.
- Looked for creative approaches to provide or improve services that may increase efficiency and decrease cost.
- Referred members of the University community to appropriate department or employee to solve specific challenges; performing appropriate follow-up as needed.
- Sought ways to continuously improve satisfaction and remove barriers when providing services to members of the University community.
Stephen P. Klass "STAR" Award (Service, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability)
In honor of Stephen P. Klass, who served as Vice President and Dean of Students from 2002-2006, this award is given to the staff member who has consistently excelled in his or her position; has made outstanding contributions in the area of service and dedication to U of C; has promoted teamwork and collaboration across the DoS and the university; has worked quietly behind the scenes to improve his or her division or department; and who has consistently done so with a positive and forward-thinking attitude.
Criteria
When nominating individuals for this award, please cite examples of exceptional performance from all four of the following categories:
1. Service: The nominee provides outstanding customer service, whether to students, faculty, parents, co-workers or community members
2. Teamwork: The nominee develops and encourages cooperation and collaboration, while displaying outstanding group effort. The nominee also consistently offers support, assistance and encouragement to co-workers, often without being asked to do so.
3. Attitude: The nominee consistently demonstrates patience, good humor and enthusiasm while on the job. The nominee also demonstrates excellence in resolving conflicts and/or facing challenges.
4. Reliability: The nominee provides prompt, efficient and reliable service. The nominee is both dependable and trustworthy, and instills in his or her co-workers a sense of responsibility and dedication to the University.
