Outstanding Staff Awards

Purpose of the Program

The Outstanding Staff Awards were established in 1999 to recognize the important roles administrative and technical staff have in fulfilling the academic mission of the Faculty.

The four awards are:

• The Dean’s Student Life Award recognizes an administrative staff member who has improved the quality of the student experience in the Faculty of Arts and Science. This award recognizes innovations and demonstrated improvements to the services provided to students. Examples include, but are not limited to, academic counselling, volunteer work with campus organizations, student records, student services, etc.
• The Dean’s Outstanding Technical Service Awardis presented to a technical staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to technical services and, as a result, had a direct impact on improving teaching and/or research. This award recognizes, for example, innovative solutions to problems, improvements in efficiency, cost-savings in labs, computer areas, shops, etc.
• The Dean’s Outstanding Administrative Service Award is given to an administrative staff member who has earned the respect of their administrative colleagues and whose outstanding contributions to administrative service have made a positive impact on teaching, research, or general administration. This award recognizes, for example, improvements in morale, efficiency, cost-savings and client service.
• The Dean’s Distinguished Service Award is presented to a non-academic staff member who has, over the course of her/his years of service to the Faculty of Arts and Science, distinguished herself/himself in ways that are beyond the expectations of administrative peers, academic colleagues and students. Award winners are expected to have served in the Faculty of Arts and Science for a period of at least five years, although this time need not have been spent in a single Arts and Science department. In any one year, provided there are exceptional circumstances, there may be more than one award. Distinguished service is inclusive of staff who have provided outstanding service at the department/divisional level but whose impact does not extend beyond the local level. Rank, or classification are not critical components of distinguished service, rather a spirit of generosity, community, and dedication to the work, clients and members of the unit, are essential criteria.

Criteria/Eligibility

Staff-appointed administrative and technical employees of the Faculty of Arts and Science who have:

• made an outstanding contribution to the Faculty’s mission of teaching and research excellence;
• earned the respect of their colleagues for their professionalism and team work and contribution to morale;
• demonstrated their commitment to the Faculty by performing services beyond the requirements of their job responsibilities;
• made an impact that has extended beyond their immediate unit or department;
• previous winners are not eligible to win a second award.

Prizes

The winner in each category will be acknowledged with a certificate and $500 cash prize awarded by the Dean at a ceremony in the spring.

Nomination Procedure

A nomination can be made by U of T staff, faculty, students or alumni.

A nomination must clearly state the nominee's merits as outlined in the general criteria, with particular reference to the nominee’s contributions to their respective area of expertise.

In addition to the nomination letter, at least two letters of support for the nomination from students, staff, faculty or alumni must be provided.

All nomination packages must include a covering letter of endorsement from the Chair or department head.

Deadline for nomation submissions is TBA.

Submit nomination packages to:

Heather Black
Manager Administrative Human Resources
Faculty of Arts & Science University of Toronto
100 St. George Street, Room 2017
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 3G3

Note: We encourage nominators to bring forward nominees not selected last year for this year’s awards and beyond.

Questions:

If you have further questions, please call contact the Heather Black at 416-978-5124 or heather.black@utoronto.ca.