Superior Accomplishment Awards

The 2023 Superior Accomplishment Awards nomination period opens September 14th, 2022 and runs through October 21st, 2022.

This program recognizes faculty and staff members who contribute outstanding and meritorious service, efficiency and/or economy, or have created an impact on the quality of life provided to students and employees. This program is designed to recognize outstanding faculty and staff for their dedication to their jobs and for going above and beyond to advance the mission of our great university and serve the community at-large.

Division-level award recipients receive cash awards of $200 each, then compete for university-level awards, which offer eight $1,000 and eight $2,000 cash awards.

Nominate a colleague by completing the Superior Accomplishment Award Nomination form!

• SAA: Questions to Ask
• Helpful Hints: Writing Superior Accomplishment Award Nominations

Have questions? Please email us at SAA@hr.ufl.edu. 

Award Categories

• Employee Performance
  • Clerical/Office Support
  • Support Services
  • Scientific/Technical
  • Administrative/Supervisory
  • Administrative/Professional
  • Academic Personnel
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Community Service

Nomination Process

Nominations for Superior Accomplishment Awards includes input from several sources that are reviewed by a selection committee composed of university employees.

Nominations for the 2023 awards are due October 21st, 2022

1. The first step is to gather the elements of the nomination packet. This will include obtaining the nominee’s UFID, letters of support, and any additional documentation that demonstrates the exemplary contributions of the nominee over the last academic year.
2. Submit the online nomination form, including uploading letters of support and answering a few questions on the nominee’s contributions and their impact. Need help with the nomination form? Here are some questions to ask when considering a candidate for a Superior Accomplishment Award. 
3. Nominations should be based upon outstanding contributions to the university community during the past academic year (August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022).
4. Please submit only one nomination form per nominee from your department. Letters of support for your nominee are encouraged but are not necessary.
5. Based on the nomination and letters of support your divisional committee will select award winners in each of the various employee award categories.
6. The nomination package for each divisional award winner is then forwarded to the university award committee for evaluation. The university committee selects a university-wide award winner in each employee award category.

Selection Criteria

The following criteria apply at all levels of awards for the period covering the previous academic year (August 1 – July 31).

Eligibility

All Academic Personnel, Post-Doctoral Associates, TEAMS employees, USPS staff members, UFPD Sworn Law Enforcement and Police Communications Operators, and University-affiliated Direct Supporting Organizations (DSO) employees, except those with titles higher than department chair or director level, are eligible to participate.* OPS employees are not eligible. If an employee receives a divisional or University Superior Accomplishment Award, they will not be eligible for another divisional or University award in the same category until one year has passed.

* Employees that have received an official disciplinary action during the previous academic year (August 1 – July 31) are not eligible for consideration.

Length of Service

All nominees must have been employed by the University for the full previous academic year (August 1 – July 31). For academic personnel, the full-year employment period is two academic semesters.

Full-Time Equivalency (FTE)

All nominees must have been appointed on a minimum 75 percent or 3/4 work-time basis as a UF hourly/salaried employee (including UFF) for the full academic year under consideration.

Criteria For Employee Performance Awards:

Nominees shall have accomplished noteworthy performance and have made a positive impact on the overall goals and objectives of the department. The committee will consider the following:

• Excellence in overall job performance
• Outstanding service to students, staff, academic personnel, visitors, and university clientele
• Willingness to assist beyond normal expectations
• Dedication to the job and the university
• Significant focus and attention to safety in the workplace to include development and/or compliance with safety policies, plans, and procedures
• Consistent cooperation and helpfulness
• Initiative and/or creativity in performing assigned duties

Criteria For Community Service Award:

• Nominees should have shown a record of significant and sustained community service such as volunteering with charitable/nonprofit organizations, through civic service, or within the local or University community. Time commitment to community service should be 50 hours or more in the award year.
• Nominees should have served as an inspiration to others through their persistent excellence either at the University (in a capacity other than their usual assignment) or in the general community. If the nominee’s work relates to community service, please provide a copy or description of their job responsibilities with explanation of service beyond what is expected.
• Application materials should demonstrate how nominees are providing assistance to a local community or University project that had a positive impact on individuals. A letter of support from the audience or agency served is strongly encouraged to certify service commitment.

Community Service Definition:
“Services which are identified by an institution of higher education, through formal or informal consultation with local nonprofit, governmental, and community-based organizations, as designed to improve the quality of life for community residents, particularly low-income individuals, or to solve particular problems related to their needs, including:

• such fields as health care, child care, literacy training, education (including tutorial services), welfare, social services, transportation, housing and neighborhood improvement, public safety, crime prevention and control, recreation, rural development, and community improvement;
• work in service opportunities or youth corps as defined in the National and Community Service Act of 1990;
• support services to students with disabilities; and
• activities in which a student serves as a mentor for such purposes as tutoring, supporting educational and recreational activities; and counseling, including career counseling.”

Taken from the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, and the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1993

Criteria For Diversity & Inclusion Award
To recognize an employee who demonstrates exemplary conduct that fosters full participation by diverse faculty, students and staff, creates a climate of inclusion on campus and/or in the community, and promotes diversity to enhance educational, research or other work outcomes.

• Example 1 – An employee who has implemented or participated in the implementation of a diversity program or activity to enhance the recruitment, retention, academic success and/or graduation of students of under represented groups whose inclusion is needed to achieve mission-critical broad diversity.
• Example 2 – An employee who has created an environment that is diverse, inclusive and encourages full participation by all groups whose inclusion is needed to achieve mission-critical broad diversity.
• Example 3 – An employee who has participated in implementing a diversity program or modeled inclusion through employee recruitment and retention in their area, supporting broad university diversity goals.
• Example 4 – An employee who recognizes diversity and simultaneously participated in providing educational programs that allow every audience member/participant the opportunity to hear or read the information in the language/format of their choice/need.
• Example 5 – An employee who reworked his/her syllabus and readings to represent a range of perspectives and histories regarding the subject matter. This faculty member has also participated in trainings on different learning styles and has incorporated a range of methods to create a more inclusive and affirming environment.
• Example 6 – An employee who wrote and received a National Science Foundation grant to encourage and support students from underrepresented backgrounds in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This faculty member created the program from admission through graduate school.
• Example 7 – An employee who creates or participates in the marketing and conducting of school and/or summer youth programs that target minority or underrepresented youth in local communities.
• Example 8 – An employee who participates in creating, marketing and conducting community workshops where special effort is made to reach minority or underrepresented, disadvantaged adults and youth in local communities.

Superior Accomplishment Awards Divisions

DIVISION 1
All departments, divisions, and units under the Offices of the President, Chief Operating Officer, Human Resources, Research, General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer, Government & Community Relations, Chief Information Officer, Chief Diversity Officer, Strategic Communications & Marketing, and UF Advancement.

DIVISION 2
All individuals in departments and entities under the Chief Executive Officer of UF Health Shands Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, University Florida Jacksonville Physicians, Inc.

DIVISION 3
All schools, colleges, departments, and units under the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

DIVISION 4
All schools, departments, and units under the Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources (IFAS)

DIVISION 5
All colleges, departments, and units under the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs (Health Science Center to include Vet Med)

DIVISION 6
All departments and units under the Vice President for Student Affairs

DIVISION 7
All departments, divisions, and units under the Vice President for Business Affairs

Division Chairs and University Committee members, along with their contact information, can be found on the Division Chairs and University Committee contact list.