Distinguished Staff Excellence Award
Recognizes an individual staff member for consistent excellence, exceptional performance and service to UD, with outstanding contributions to the university in one or more of the following areas of focus: Student Success; Diversity and Inclusion; Community; Service; Innovation.
The nominee:
- Embodies the UD values in their daily work and social interactions.
- Makes outstanding contributions towards improving a process or procedure or completing a complex project or solving a complex problem for the betterment of the unit/college/university.
- Demonstrates dedication to cultivating and applying their professional knowledge and expertise in ways that positively impact the mission and/or strategic pillars of UD.
- Fosters a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Distinguished Team Excellence Award
$4,000 Award
Recognizes a team of employees who exemplify cooperation and collaboration with outstanding contributions to the university in one or more of the following areas of focus: Academic Freedom; Diversity and Inclusion; Community; Service; Innovation.
The nominated team:
- Embodies the UD values in their daily work and social interactions.
- Extends their efforts across multiple UD departments, units, or entities
- Achieves results which impact a large constituency of UD employees, students and/or community members
- Makes outstanding contributions towards improving a process or procedure or completing a complex project or solving a complex problem for the betterment of the unit/college/university.
- Demonstrates dedication to cultivating and applying their professional knowledge and expertise in ways that positively impact the mission and/or strategic pillars of UD.
- Fosters a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Innovation Excellence Award
$2,000 Award
Recognizes an individual staff member or team that demonstrates the development of creative and innovative solutions to difficult challenges and applies entrepreneurial thought and approaches in everything they do.
The individual nominee or team:
- Encourages novel approaches to complex challenges.
- Supports collaboration and deep engagement within the University and with external partners.
- Contributes to the overall effectiveness and value of the department/unit/team by recommending and developing innovative approaches and solutions.
- Uses a unique approach or new solution to create a beneficial outcome.
- Uses a new process, technology, or methodology that positively affects the outcome of a task, event, project or gift.
- Takes on new initiatives and recommends solutions for the betterment of the team, unit, department, or UD.
Community Advocate Excellence Award
$2,000 Award
Recognizes an individual staff member who is committed to creating a workplace culture of belonging by advocating for everyone's voice to be heard, while demonstrating enthusiasm and optimism to create a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment for the UD community.
The nominee:
- Demonstrates an outstanding commitment to creating a culture of inclusion within their areas of influence and advocates for diversity and inclusion at the interpersonal, unit and institutional level.
- Demonstrates an authentic and empathetic understanding and consideration of the differing perspectives, needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures, beliefs, traditions, abilities and backgrounds.
- Establishes relationships both internally and across university units; serves as a mentor; serves on college/dept and/or University committee memberships or service.
- Leads with enthusiasm; fosters respectful & cooperative work climate; demonstrates accountability; makes ethical decisions.
- Coalesces people around institutional goals.
- Recognizes potential within others; values other’s opinions; practices active listening; provides support and guidance to those around them to help make work life better.