If you know me, you know I love a ritual and a celebration! One of the many ways that we honor the many contributions of our team was to institute annual awards. Our fall awards are determined by the Student Affairs Leadership team and our spring awards are determined by peer nominations from colleagues. In 2022, we presented 18 spring awards and 8 fall awards to our deserving Student Affairs staff. This recognition comes with beautiful personalized glass awards that our team proudly display in their offices! All nominees receive certificates too. We also share the announcement across the university, on social media, and on LinkedIn.
I'm often asked to share the award descriptions, please feel free to borrow these and make them your own:
Bridger Builder Award- This award honors the work of Student Affairs staff who have demonstrated the value of reaching across departments to generate initiatives to advance student success. This person or group models outstanding collaboration by establishing and nurturing partnerships and by fostering positive working relationships across departments.
Commitment to Student Success Award- This award recognizes special, unique, or extraordinary efforts on behalf of students to make procedures, services, facilities, programs, and/or the learning environment welcoming, efficient, and of exceptional quality to enhance student success. Others, especially students, may regularly comment on the helpfulness, professionalism, and assistance of these Student Affairs staff.
Innovation Award- This award honors Student Affairs staff whose innovative ideas, events, or services have created significant change for students, the department, or the University. This award celebrates innovation in action, the creative idea, and the impact that application of the idea has made on creativity in the use of resources, which includes people, budgets, and technology or the quality of the student experience.
JEDI Award- This award recognizes Student Affairs staff who has demonstrated efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming community in the University. This can include developing a new program or policy, leading activities to inform the university community about topics relating to diversity, and actively supporting diversity initiatives, programs, or educational opportunities.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award- This award celebrates Student Affairs staff who exemplifies the qualities of a great teammate. As the MVP of any sports team, this person is always willing to go the extra mile to help with projects, works well under pressure, remains positive, lends support wherever needed, and quietly makes a difference in their team’s success.
Outstanding Service Award- This award honors a Student Affairs staff member who consistently provides outstanding service to students, colleagues, and faculty.
Student Champion Award- This award honors a Student Affairs staff member who consistently finds ways to advocate for student needs, initiatives, and programs.
New Professional of the Year- This award recognizes Student Affairs staff with 1 to 5 years of total professional experience within their field who has consistently exceeded the responsibilities of their position in a way that enhances our success, mission, and goals.
Supervisor of the Year- This award recognizes Student Affairs staff outstanding supervision in a manner that contributes to the success of their staff and department. Individuals nominated for this award must supervise staff.
Spirit of Partnership Award- This award recognizes an individual or group from beyond Student Affairs who has been an outstanding partner with us and who demonstrates deep professionalism, focus on student success, and excellent teamwork.
We also recently instituted Career Placement awards for Employers and AGMU employees. More on that later.
Comments