COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES
YEAR-TO-YEAR APPOINTED PROFESSIONAL
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
NOMINATION GUIDELINES

WHAT IS THE AWARD?

The Year-to-Year Appointed Professional Award for Excellence was created to recognize and honor outstanding achievements and contributions by an individual in a year-to-year appointed professional position in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The award will be given annually with a plaque and a cash award of $1,000 presented at the Spring Faculty/Staff Meeting.

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED?

Nominees must be employed at least half-time by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in a benefits eligible year-to-year appointed professional position and should have demonstrated sustained excellence.

WHO CAN NOMINATE?

Nomination of candidates for this award may be made by any employee, undergraduate student or graduate student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Nomination packets of non-winners will be held for two additional years, and will be reconsidered if the nominee is still employed as a benefits eligible appointed professional in CALS and the nominator indicates that they wish to have the packet reconsidered without changes. 

INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED IN THE NOMINATING PETITION

It is incumbent on the nominator to do a careful and thorough job of documenting the petition. The nomination packet should include the following:

1. The nominator's petition (include the name of the nominee; a brief description of the nominee's job responsibilities; a narrative statement addressing the nominee's excellent performance, exceptional contributions, and/or dedicated service in the categories below; and contact information for the nominator).
2. At least three (3), but no more than five (5), signed letters of support which specifically address the nominee's excellent performance, exceptional contributions, and/or dedicated service. Nomination letters must demonstrate how the nominee performed during an extended period of time, over and above their expected duties. Areas of achievement can include:

• Job achievement in specific projects or in overall performance of duties.
• Recognition for high quality work by peers in similar positions and/or professional organizations.
• Specific contributions to the development of new knowledge in the areas of research, cooperative extension, academic programs or administration.
• Creation or production of outstanding educational materials (publications, curricula, videos, multi-media presentations, web sites, computer software, seminars, workshops, research reports, etc.).
• Development and implementation of technology systems to serve the college.
• Development of systems or procedures that save time and money for the college.
• Outstanding participation in college or university activities and committees.
• Exceptional efforts to promote diversity in the college.
• Outstanding service to students.
• Outreach activities benefiting Arizona communities and/or college clientele groups.
• Significant contributions to improving efficiency and reducing employee stress in the college.
• Any other category relevant to this individual's job performance.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

A committee comprised of one College of Agriculture and Life Sciences classified staff member, one faculty member, one department head, a member of CALS Appointed Professionals Council, and one administrator who shall chair the committee will review all nominations and make their selection based on the criteria stated in the suggested criteria listed below. The evaluation committee will award based on the quality of the submitted materials, and are not obligated to choose a recipient if the packets do not sufficiently demonstrate the nominees' eligibility for this award.

HOW TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS

Send the original nomination packet to Jeffrey Ratje, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Forbes 320A, P.O. Box 210036, Campus. The deadline for submission will be announced annually as it may vary somewhat from year to year. Please note that more than five letters of recommendation, incomplete packets and/or late submissions will not be considered.