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Student Affairs Awards

Spring 2024 Nominations Are Open!

Nominations Process

Each award has its own submission form; see descriptions below for eligibility and criteria. All award nominations will be peer reviewed and selected by employees outside of the Division of Student Affairs. 

Nominations due by Monday, March 25.
Winners will be announced at the Student Affairs End of Year Celebration on May 15, 2024.


Award Descriptions

1-2 Years of Service

Recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Affairs and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This individual is successful in moving a team toward goals that are consistent with the vision of a department, group, committee or University organization.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Have a minimum of one year but less than three years of service in the Division of Student Affairs at the time of the current year's Award Ceremony

CRITERIA

  1. Taking initiative to improve areas in their department, division and/or University.
  2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university.
  3. A team player within the department and division.
  4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
  5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

3-5 Years of Service

Recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Affairs and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This individual is successful in moving a team toward goals that are consistent with the vision of a department, group, committee or University organization.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Have a minimum of three years but less than six years of service in the Division of Student Affairs at the time of the current year's Award Ceremony

CRITERIA

  1. Taking initiative to improve areas in their department, division and/or University.
  2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university.
  3. A team player within the department and division.
  4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
  5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

6-9 Years of Service

Recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Affairs and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This individual is successful in moving a team toward goals that are consistent with the vision of a department, group, committee or University organization.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Have a minimum of six years service but less than 10 years of service in the Division of Student Affairs at the time of the current year's Award Ceremony

CRITERIA

  1. Taking initiative to improve areas in their department, division and/or University.
  2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university.
  3. A team player within the department and division.
  4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
  5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

10 to 19 Years of Service

Recipients who have contributed at least 10 years but less than 20 years within the Division are recognized for creating a legacy of excellence, supporting student success and providing outstanding contributions to the Division and the University.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Have a minimum of 10 years but less than 20 years of service in current department or any other department within the Division of Student Affairs at the time of the current year's Award Ceremony

CRITERIA

  1. Contributions toward job excellence – demonstrating performance on the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
  2. Innovation – demonstrating independent action and resourcefulness; encouraging new ideas and creativity; exhibiting leadership qualities within the context of position responsibilities; demonstrating other skills that exceed work expectations.
  3. Commitment to the Division - utilization of the Division’s goals to guide their practice
  4. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

20+ Years of Service

Recipients who have contributed a minimum of 20 years within the Division are recognized for creating a legacy of excellence, supporting student success and providing outstanding contributions to the Division and the University.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Have a minimum of 20 years of service in the Division of Student Affairs at the time of the current year’s award ceremony

CRITERIA

The selection committee considers, but is not limited to, the following criteria:

  1. Contributions toward job excellence – demonstrating performance on the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
  2. Innovation – demonstrating independent action and resourcefulness; encouraging new ideas and creativity; exhibiting leadership qualities within the context of position responsibilities; demonstrating other skills that exceed work expectations.
  3. Commitment to the Division - utilization of the Division’s goals to guide their practice
  4. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

The Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Justice Award is awarded to an individual, department, or team who has demonstrated their commitment to the promotion and celebration of diversity and inclusion within their department, the Division of Student Affairs, and/or the greater University community. The recipient creates an environment that celebrates diversity, advocates for the inclusion of underrepresented groups and identities, and infuses social justice into their work for students, faculty and staff.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Recipients must be employed in their current position for at least one year
  • Nominations should be based on the current academic year, and may include summer programming (for the summer preceding the start of fall semester of the current academic year)
  • Nomination may be for an individual staff member, a Student Affairs department or a team/group of Student Affairs staff connected through program/initiative

CRITERIA

The Division of Student Affairs recognizes the individual or team/department that demonstrates the following:

  1. Education – Seeks to educate students, faculty, and staff about topics related to diversity and inclusion through informal and formal opportunities
  2. Dialogue – Engages in conversation about diversity, difference, inclusion, and social justice with students, faculty, and staff through formal and informal opportunities
  3. Collaboration – Strives to collaborate with others in the Division of Student Affairs and University community to promote an inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff
  4. Personal Development – Seeks to further develop their understanding of diversity, difference, inclusion, and social justice through formal and informal educational opportunities
  5. Advocacy – Advocates for underrepresented groups to create an inclusive environment where all students, faculty, and staff can be successful and welcome
  6. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year

Award presented to the staff, committee, department, etc. that helped provide a positive impact to the mission and values of the Division of Student Affairs. The nominee helps build a connected community focused on academic success, leadership, service and pride among the members of the community.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee, office or team
  • Be a group of 2 or more members

CRITERIA

  1. Collaborated with others (e.g., students, staff, faculty, etc.) and exhibited significant efforts to advance departmental goals and the Division of Student Affairs mission.
  2. Demonstrated outstanding performances and results due to group achievement/collaboration. Examples may include delivering exceptional customer service, cost savings, time savings, creative ideas, maintaining high safety records, combining talents of traditionally separate units, actively demonstrating by example a willingness to encourage teamwork in the workplace, developing innovative programming, etc.
  3. Demonstrated cooperation, collaboration, and open communication to complete a project or achieve a goal.
  4. Delivered a significant benefit or value to a department, division, or the University as a whole.
  5. Worked toward a common goal while being supportive and motivational of each other.

This award recognizes a Student Affairs employee or team/department that has shown quality programming/initiatives through innovative and creative ideas/solutions that support divisional and/or institutional goals and promotes student success. 

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee, department, or area

The Division of Student Affairs recognizes the individual or team/department that demonstrates the following:

  1. Supports current issues and interests of students and/or staff;
  2. Provides a quality program/initiative with innovative ideas and goals;
  3. Demonstrates a cutting edge style, a new initiative, and/or a new spin on an old program/initiative;
  4. Goes above and beyond expectations in the planning and delivery of a program/initiative.

This award is presented to the office or individual outside of the Division of Student Affairs with whom staff within the Division partner or collaborate with to advance a cause or solve a problem to benefit students and/or the division. The “friend” must be an integral part of the program or cause.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • The nominator must be a current member of the Division of Student Affairs
  • Nominations should be based on the current academic year, and may include summer programming (for the summer preceding the start of fall semester of the current academic year)

CRITERIA

Recognizes faculty or staff member, alumni, or department – not part of Student Affairs – who has:

  1. Provided consistent and continuous support to the division;
  2. Contributed to the mission of the division in a variety of ways;
  3. Gone above and beyond in providing assistance to staff and programs of the division;
  4. Provided significant dedication and contribution to divisional or departmental missions

Recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Affairs and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This employee exceptionally completes essential administrative functions within the division and fosters student success but is not necessarily always in direct contact with students. This award is designed to celebrate the contributions of employees often completing responsibilities “behind the scenes.”

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee. Including but not limited to: Administrative Support Associates, Administrative Assistants, Security Guards and Loan Key Operators
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Previous award winners from the past (3) years are ineligible for the award
  • Must be employed with the Division of Student Affairs for a minimum of 6 months by May 1 (of the current academic year)

CRITERIA

  1. Provided exceptional service and/or support “above and beyond” normal job requirements which contributes to the success of the department’s work and to the UNC Charlotte community
  2. Exhibited creativity in accomplishing tasks
  3. Exhibited excellence in performing job responsibilities
  4. Consistently been a team player within the department and division
  5. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
  6. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year

Recognizes employees who have contributed to the success of the Division of Student Affairs and their individual departments through their use of personal initiative, analytical and critical thinking skills and problem-solving capability. This employee exceptionally completes essential facilities functions within the division and fosters student success but is not necessarily always in direct contact with students. This award is designed to celebrate the contributions of employees often completing responsibilities “behind the scenes.”

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee. Including but not limited to: Facilities Management, Housing and Residence Life Facilities, Locksmiths and Housekeeping
  • Be a full-time employee
  • Previous award winners from the past (3) years are ineligible for the award
  • Must be employed with the Division of Student Affairs for a minimum of 6 months by May 1 (of the current academic year)

CRITERIA

  1. Provided exceptional service and/or support “above and beyond” normal job requirements which contributes to the success of the department’s work and to the UNC Charlotte community
  2. Exhibited creativity in accomplishing tasks
  3. Exhibited excellence in performing job responsibilities
  4. Consistently been a team player within the department and division
  5. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students and/or student groups by promoting an environment that encourages student success
  6. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year

The Behind The Scenes award recognizes full-time staff who work “behind the scenes” for the good of Student Affairs and UNC Charlotte and, while not being publicly celebrated, demonstrates meaningful impact through dedication and service.  Any individual in an area that provides services or support for students directly or indirectly is eligible for nomination. 

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee.
  • Be a full-time employee.

CRITERIA

  1. Taking initiative to support students, student organizations, the department, and/or the division with no tangible benefits for doing so.  
  2. Dedication and commitment within their role and department at the university as shown through being resourceful, approachable, and trustworthy.
  3. A team player within the department and division.
  4. Contributed to the direct or indirect impact on the development of students by promoting an environment that encourages student success.
  5. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year.

This award is designed to recognize Student Affairs staff, departments or areas that are driving impactful change within their unit(s). Nominees show quality work and exceptional dedication toward building a Culture of Evidence within their area and/or unit. Nominees have demonstrated the use of assessment for improvement of programs and/or services while identifying strategic practices that can be replicated by other units to achieve similar outcomes.

ELIGIBILITY

Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:

  • Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee.

CRITERIA

The Division of Student Affairs recognizes the individual or team/department that demonstrates the following:

  1. Impact – Promotes impactful change toward improving programs/services through the demonstrated use of assessment
  2. Culture of Evidence – supports the divisional Culture of Evidence initiative through the intentional use of assessment
  3. Collaboration – Demonstrates strategic practices of assessment that can be replicated by other units or areas to achieve similar outcomes
  4. Made a direct and meaningful impact this academic year