President’s Staff Awards

Nominees should demonstrate excellence in the following areas:

• Enhancing the quality of work life in ways that make a significant difference for colleagues or constituents.
• Providing outstanding and ongoing excellence in services to faculty, staff, students and other constituents.
• Developing creative solutions to problems that result in significantly more effective and efficient department or University operations.
• Demonstrating unusual dedication to the University’s mission and values.
• Contributing to the University’s positive image in the community.

Nominees must be full- or part-time active staff from any division with a minimum of five years of continuous service at the University. Faculty and students are not eligible for this award. Previous recipients of the Witmer Award are ineligible for nomination.

Contact Jamie Piotrowski at (585) 275-3696 or email awards-recognition@rochester.edu for questions regarding eligibility.

The recipients will be given a permanent, one-time increase in base salary of $1,500 and the University will waive the cost of their employee parking permits for one year. In addition, their names will be inscribed on recognition boards placed in prominent locations at the Medical Center and in Wallis Hall. They will also be featured in University publications and invited to attend a reception in their honor.

Nominations may be submitted or supported by current University of Rochester faculty and staff, students, teams, or groups with the exception of members of the Witmer and Meliora Awards Selection Committee.

Award recipients will be selected by the Witmer, Meliora, and Murphy Awards Selection Committee and announced in the spring.

Nominations are due by no later than April 24, 2024. Please be sure that ALL information is complete.

The following is part of the nomination form:

• A nominating statement of no more than three pages (12 point font or larger) must accompany the nomination form explaining how the nominee satisfies the award criteria. Please be specific, providing concrete examples.
• Exactly three letters of support (each no more than one page in length and 12 point font or larger) from those who have been directly affected by this nominee’s work performance and dedication. One of the supporting letters must be from the individual’s direct supervisor unless the supervisor is submitting the nomination. Letters need to be specific and detailed to ensure full understanding of the nominee’s accomplishments.

Nominees should have demonstrated their commitment to the Meliora Values during the preceding few years through:

• Excellence in overall job performance that includes at least one major improvement to an individual department, program, unit, or the University as a whole (for example, service enhancement, significant process improvement, cost reduction or avoidance, etc.).
• Initiative, innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity.
• Service to constituents that consistently exceeds expectations.
• Contributions to an environment characterized by collaboration, cooperation, tolerance and mutual respect.

Nominees must be full- or part-time active staff from any division of the University. Nominations may be submitted for individual staff members or teams of staff members. A team member may not nominate his or her own team. Faculty and students are not eligible for this award.

Contact Jamie Piotrowski at (585) 275-3696 or email awards-recognition@rochester.edu for questions regarding eligibility.

Individual Meliora Award recipients will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the University will waive the cost of their employee parking permits for one year. Team Meliora Award recipients will receive $3,000 to be used to support their teams work. In addition, their names will be inscribed on recognition boards placed in prominent locations at the Medical Center and in Wallis Hall. They will also be featured in University publications and invited to attend a reception in their honor.

Nominations may be submitted or supported by current University of Rochester faculty, staff, students, teams, or groups with the exception of members of the Witmer, Meliora, and Murphy Awards Selection Committee.

Award recipients will be selected by the Witmer, Meliora, and Murphy Awards Selection Committee and announced in the spring.

For each individual or team nomination, please submit a nomination online by no later than April 24, 2024 containing the following items. Please be sure that ALL information is complete.

• A nominating statement of no more than three pages (12 point font or larger) explaining how the individual or team nominee satisfies the award criteria. Please be specific, providing concrete examples.
• Exactly three letters of support (each no more than one page in length and 12 point font or larger) from those who have been directly affected by this individual or team nominee’s innovation or service. For individual nominations, one letter of support must be from the nominee’s direct supervisor unless the supervisor is the nominator.

The Staff Community Service Award (SCSA) is awarded annually to a non-management staff person in recognition of their outstanding volunteer contributions to the University of Rochester community (in a capacity other than their usual assignment/department) or another non-profit organization in the greater Rochester community.

Nominations are accepted to recognize the achievement of a singular outstanding event or the continuous outstanding and dedicated service the individual has provided over a long period of time.

All active full- and part-time University of Rochester staff, other than supervisory and management personnel, with a minimum of one year of service may be nominated. Nominations may recognize:

• Long-serving high achievement for a local not-for-profit community organization, neighborhood group or association, or the University community.
• A record of significant and sustained community service such as volunteering with charitable, nonprofit organizations, or within the University community.
• A nominee who has demonstrated any of the following:
  • “Leading the charge” in order to initiate a community project or University initiative outside of their usual assignment.
  • Serving as an inspiration to others through his or her persistent excellence either at the University (in a capacity other than their usual assignment) or in the general community.
  • Providing assistance to a local nonprofit community or University project that had a positive impact on individuals.

Contact Jamie Piotrowski at (585) 275-3696 or email awards-recognition@rochester.edu for questions regarding eligibility.

A cash award of $2,500 will be shared by the recipient ($1,500) and the not-for-profit organization ($1,000) that the recipient has volunteered with to provide the service. In addition, the University will waive the cost of their employee parking permit for one year.

The recipient’s name will be inscribed on recognition boards placed in prominent locations at the Medical Center and in Wallis Hall. The awardee will also be featured in University publications and invited to attend a reception in his or her honor.

Nominations may be submitted or supported by current University of Rochester faculty, staff, students, teams, or groups with the exception of members of the Staff Community Service Award Selection Committee.

The SCSA Selection Committee will select one honoree annually based on the criteria noted.

For each nominee, please submit all of the information on the nomination form below by no later than April 24, 2024, including:

• A nominating statement of no more than three pages explaining how the nominee satisfies the award criteria. Please be specific, providing concrete examples.
• A letter of support (no more than one page) from a representative of the organization that has been directly affected by this nominee’s service.

Nominees should demonstrate excellence and creativity in innovation in approach, and scale of impact across our University in addition to the following criteria:

• Acts as an excellent role model to staff, peers, and students; models the MELIORA values.
• Inspires others to work collaboratively and creatively to achieve positive results.
• Demonstrates initiative and innovation in approach.
• Promotes a work environment that is respectful and supportive; demonstrating a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Courageous commitment to servant leadership; staying actively involved in the coaching, mentoring and development of others.
• Demonstrates an ability to effectively communicate issues, ideas and solutions to key stakeholders.
• Leads an effective team that achieves positive results.
• Fosters a sense of commitment and pride in the University.

Nominees must be full-or part-time active staff from any division who demonstrate leadership qualities. Faculty and students are not eligible for this award.

Contact Jamie Piotrowski at (585) 275-3696 or email awards-recognition@rochester.edu for questions regarding eligibility.

Recipients will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the University will waive the cost of their employee parking permits for one year. In addition, their names will be inscribed on recognition boards placed in prominent locations at the Medical Center and in Wallis Hall. They will also be featured in University publications and invited to attend a reception in their honor.

Nominations may be submitted or supported by current University of Rochester faculty and staff, students, teams, or groups with the exception of members of the Witmer, Meliora, and Murphy Awards Selection Committee.

Award recipients will be selected by the Witmer, Meliora, and Murphy Awards Selection Committee and announced in the spring.

For each nominee, please submit an online nomination form by no later than April 24, 2024 containing the following items. Please be sure that ALL information is complete.

• A nominating statement of no more than three pages (12 point font or larger) must accompany the nomination form explaining how the nominee satisfies the award criteria. Please be specific, providing concrete examples.
• Exactly three letters of support (each no more than one page in length and 12 point font or larger) from those who have been directly affected by this nominee’s work performance and dedication. One of the supporting letters must be from the individual’s direct supervisor unless the supervisor is submitting the nomination.
• Nominations must include feedback from direct reports and/or peers. Where applicable, department survey information will be considered (employee, patient, customer).
• Letters need to be specific and detailed to ensure full understanding of the nominee’s accomplishments.