Overview 
The University System Staff Excellence Award recognizes and honors staff members who have demonstrated exceptional service, initiative, leadership, and dedication to their campus or to the university system as a whole. This prestigious award celebrates individuals whose contributions have made a significant and lasting positive impact on our academic community. 
Eligibility
- Regular, benefited, non-faculty staff members employed within the university system for a minimum of two consecutive years
- Employees with no active disciplinary actions
- Previous nominees who did not receive the award may be renominated
- Previous recipients are eligible for renomination after three years
- Self-nominations will not be accepted
Award Criteria
Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria and should meet 2 of the 5:
- Excellence in Service
- Consistently performs duties with exceptional quality, accuracy, and reliability
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to providing outstanding service to students, faculty, staff, and/or visitors.
- Goes above and beyond standard job responsibilities to ensure the highest level of service.
- Contributes to improving service delivery processes and systems
- Innovation and Initiative
- Identifies opportunities for improvement and develops creative solutions to challenges
- Implements new ideas, programs, or processes that enhance the effectiveness of their department, the institution, or the university system
- Takes initiative to address issues proactively without being prompted
- Demonstrates resourcefulness and problem-solving skills in their approach to work
- Collaboration and Community Building
- Actively builds positive working relationships across departments and campuses
- Promotes a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment
- Effectively communicates and works with diverse stakeholders
- Contributes to team success and enhances institutional cooperation
- Leadership and Influence
- Serves as a positive role model for colleagues
- Inspires and motivates others to excellence through their example
- Demonstrates leadership regardless of formal position or title
- Mentors colleagues and contributes to the professional development of others
- Impact and Outcomes
- Makes contributions that have a significant positive impact on their department, campus, or the university system
- Achieves measurable results that advance their institution or the university system’s mission and strategic goals
- Creates efficiencies or improvements that benefit students, faculty, staff, or other stakeholders
- Implements changes that have long-term, sustainable benefits
Nomination Process
- Nomination Period: Nominations are accepted annually from [Month] 1 to [Month] 30.
- Nomination Materials: Completed nomination form Optional supporting materials that demonstrate the nominee’s impact, including additional letters of support (maximum 5 pages)
- Submission: All nomination materials should be submitted electronically to [email address] or via the online nomination portal at [website URL].
Selection Process
- ND State Staff Senators, comprising representatives from various campuses within the university system, will review all complete nominations.
- Evaluation will be based on the award criteria listed above, with each criterion weighted equally.
- ND State Staff Senate will select up to 3 recipients annually based on the strength of the nominations and the demonstrated excellence of the nominees.
- The recipients selected will be sent to the Commissioner for final approval.
Recognition
Award recipients will receive:
- A commemorative plaque Feature story in university publications and website (will include archive of past winners)
- Recognition at the annual in-person NDSSS meeting in June
Timeline
- Nomination Period: January 1 – March 31
- Committee Review: April 1 – May 15
- Recipients Notified: By May 25th
- Recognition and Award Ceremony: June
Contact Information
For questions regarding the University System Staff Excellence Award, please contact: [Name] [Title] [Email] [Phone]
