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/Year-to-Year Appointed Professional 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. Beginning in 2008, 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 in one or more of the following categories:

• 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.

HOW TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS

Send the original nomination packet and four (4) copies to Alma Sperr, Associate Dean for Administrative Services, 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. Resumes or curriculum vitae for nominees may be included. Please note that more than five letters of recommendation, incomplete packets and/or late submissions will not be considered.

CALS YEAR-TO-YEAR APPOINTED PROFESSIONAL
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
SUGGESTED CRITERIA

Outstanding Achievement of Professional Duties/Responsibilities - accomplishments beyond expected professional standards of the person's position such as:

• producing work of exceptional quality over an extended period of time.
• producing work that garners professional awards or recognition for the individual and/or the college by peers on a state, regional, national or international basis.
• contributions of ideas and/or planning which have a significantly positive impact on administration, extension, research or academic programs operations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• creation and/or production of educational materials, operations reports, technology systems or other materials that deliver significant benefit to the operations and programs of the college.

Exceptional Contributions Toward Efficiency and Effectiveness of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Operations - actions that maximize use of college resources (including financial, personnel, equipment and facilities resources) such as:

• designing, implementing or integrating information or equipment for more efficient and effective use by a broad spectrum of college personnel.
• developing new work methods that reduce waste or stretch resources.
• designing new methods of communications between personnel at all levels of the college to improve efficiency and reduce employee stress.
• planning and implementing cooperative efforts among college personnel to further the mission and values of the college.

Outstanding Service to the University Community, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the People of Arizona - actions which bring positive recognition to the college such as:

• doing more than the minimum job requirements to benefit administration, faculty, staff, year-to-year appointed personnel, students and clientele of the college on a continuing basis through projects or programs in which the employee is involved.
• performing job duties in a consistently professional, courteous and cooperative manner.
• developing opportunities for college personnel at all levels to participate in professional development that increases knowledge and job skills and enhances employee contributions to the college and its clientele.
• consistently making special efforts to recognize achievements of co-workers, foster excellence in other employees, and contribute to a supportive, team-oriented environment.
• through media, publications, seminars, workshops or other education-related public relations efforts, consistently providing positive images of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to both internal and external audiences of the college.
• making distinguished efforts to promote implementation, awareness and acceptance of diversity in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences workforce.