UA News

Awards are given in four categories to recognize outstanding employees at the UA.

Time is running out to nominate University of Arizona employees for the annual Staff Awards for Excellence. Nominations are due no later than 4 p.m. on Jan. 29.

The awards, sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council, the Appointed Professionals Advisory Council, UA President Robert N. Shelton and the President's Cabinet, are designed to recognize outstanding staff and appointed personnel at the UA whose achievement and activities have gone above and beyond their normal job duties.

Awards are given in the following four categories:

• University Staff Awards for Excellence will be presented to up to a total of 11 classified staff and appointed personnel members, regardless of their length of service, classification or pay grade. These awards are designed to recognize outstanding achievements. Individuals nominated must be benefits eligible. Winners each receive $1,000.
• The Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence will be presented to one employee, with at least 15 cumulative years of employment at the University, who merits special recognition for a career of dedicated service to the University, its employees and the community. Nominees can be chosen from any employment category. Individuals nominated must be benefits eligible. The winner receives $1,500.
• The University Team Award for Excellence will be presented to a team primarily comprised of classified staff and appointed personnel. Team members should have complementary skills, be committed to a common purpose and share specific performance goals. A team shall be defined as three or more benefits-eligible employees, regardless of their length of service. The award will be presented in recognition of the team's outstanding contribution to its unit, department or the University as a whole. Team members share a $1,500 prize.
• The Department Award for Excellence will be presented to a single department in recognition of outstanding excellence in the management of its people and resources. Nominations should include specific examples of exemplary performance in the criteria themes outlined. Judges will look for the degree to which departments meet and/or exceed the selection criteria. There is no monetary award.

For details and nomination forms, visit the Staff Advisory Council Web site.

For additional questions, contact Grace Aranda at garanda@u.arizona.edu or Lisa Wakefield at wakefiel@u.arizona.edu or 626-9422.

Shelton will present the awards during a ceremony on April 13.