AWARD OF DISTINCTION

Each year, Emory University's Award of Distinction Program recognizes approximately 10-15 university employees who have made outstanding contributions to the Emory Community. Honorees are recognized at a special Award of Distinction Dinner and also receive a $1,000 award.

 

Eligibility & Nomination Process: 

  ELIGIBILITY

All regular full-time and part-time staff, who have been employed for at least one year are eligible to be nominated for the Award of Distinction. Previous awardees are also eligible.

Employees not eligible for nomination include faculty, faculty equivalents, librarians, board approved principals and employees of Emory Healthcare.

 

  NOMINATION PROCESS

We invite nominations for employees who have consistently demonstrated outstanding job performance and who have made contributions during the previous calendar year towards Emory's goal of becoming a destination university.

Nominations can be made by faculty, staff or supervisors and require the endorsement of the head of the department/school/division in which the nominee works. Employees may not nominate themselves. Nominations received in Human Resources after the deadline are not considered.

A department/school/division may submit one nomination for every 50 Full-Time Employee regular staff. All nominations must be typed and limited to 500 words.

 

  NOMINATION CATEGORIES

A nominees' contributions should be demonstrated through the employee's successful efforts to create and implement collaborative initiatives between schools and/or units that produce meaningful results towards the achievement of Emory's strategic plan through one or more of the following categories:

• Development of a program or process that directly impacts one of the five University-wide themes and initiatives from Emory's strategic plan

• Demonstrate commitment to the public good, which is a defining part of Emory's character, through the use of one's talents and abilities for personal and/or global goals

• Exemplary participation in a university committee, task force or commission

• Significant contribution to an innovation resulting in increased customer satisfaction for students, employees, visitors or alumni

• Creative suggestion or initiative resulting in a new successful program or service for a department or for the university

• Innovation resulting in increased efficiency or decreased costs in a department or for the university

• Established a program or procedure that has improved the safety and security of the Emory Community

• Exceptional contribution which advances and supports the quality of teaching or research

• Demonstrated commitment to improving cross-cultural understanding

 

  SELECTION PROCESS

Human Resources reviews each nomination for eligibility and completeness, and then routes each nomination to the Award Selection Committee. The Award Selection Committee is appointed by the Vice President of Human Resources and includes former awardees. The Committee evaluates all submissions using the information described in "Nomination Categories" and selects 10 to 15 award recipients each year.

 

  COMMUNICATION AND CELEBRATION

Human Resources notifies each award recipient and his/her respective dean or vice president. A dinner is held to honor the reception of the Award of Distinction. The honoree is accompanied by a guest of his/her choice. The honoree's picture and excerpts from the nomination letter are publicized in the Emory Report.

• Read about the 2014 Award Recipients
• View Past Award Recipients