Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program 2024

April 16, 2024

Members of the Rutgers Community,

I’m proud to announce the second annual Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program. Last year we launched this program, a recommendation of the Future of Work Task Force, with the aim of acknowledging and celebrating the exceptional contributions of our university's faculty and staff.

The inaugural event was a resounding success, thanks to the overwhelming participation and support from our university community. We had the privilege of honoring individuals and teams whose dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence have truly made a difference in advancing our institution's mission and values.

As you may recall, the award categories align with one or more of our key value propositions: ensuring access and academic excellence, building community, and serving the common good. Beginning this year, we are adding a new category that honors longtime contributions by faculty and staff members. 

Please help us honor a new group of outstanding Rutgers faculty and staff by submitting a nomination. The award categories are listed below and can accommodate individual and team nominations, with the exception of the Lifetime Contribution Awards.

Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award (Faculty): Celebrates the extraordinary achievements of a faculty member who has devoted more than two decades of their professional journey to enriching the academic landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the university. This prestigious accolade acknowledges individuals whose tireless commitment has shaped the essence of our institution. Their impact transcends generations, shaping the intellectual landscape and nurturing the next wave of visionary leaders.

Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award (Staff): Celebrates the extraordinary achievements of a staff member whose dedication, innovation, and excellence over more than two decades has significantly contributed to the enhancement of our university. This prestigious accolade acknowledges individuals whose tireless commitment has shaped the essence of our institution. Their impact transcends generations, shaping the intellectual landscape and nurturing the next wave of visionary leaders. 

Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Students): Recognizes staff, faculty, or a team of employees who go to exceptional lengths to remove barriers and provide access to those pursuing a Rutgers education. The selected individual or team recognizes the value of a diverse student body and the challenges that students often face and seeks to make education more accessible and attainable. 

Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Employees): Recognizes staff, faculty, or a team of employees who go to exceptional lengths to remove barriers to build a more positive work environment, improve employee engagement and morale, and create operational efficiencies through forward-thinking process improvements. The recipient or recipients recognize the value of a diverse workforce and encourage cross-departmental teamwork to address shared challenges and improve workplace culture. 

Rutgers University Spirit Award: Celebrates differences and recognizes significant contributions to cultivating a beloved community—one in which all members work together and are heard—at Rutgers University. This individual or team exemplifies this commitment by promoting and advancing dialogue, mutual respect, and a spirit of belonging to create a healthy Rutgers ecosystem.

Rutgers Outstanding Service Award: Recognizes faculty, staff, and/or a team that demonstrate a relentless determination to make a lasting difference beyond the university’s borders. The recipient or recipients display a demonstrated commitment to moving society toward a greater common good and encourage constructive collaboration in service to our local and global communities.

Pride of Rutgers Award: Given to those who exemplify the university’s value propositions through their day-to-day actions. This award recognizes Rutgers employees who exceed the expectations of their day-to-day tasks; provide exceptional customer service taking the time to understand the needs of our students, staff, patients, and/or visitors to meet their needs consistently and effectively; serve as problem solvers and find innovative ways to save time, money, or other resources; and demonstrate a consistency in getting the job done right and on time.

Please visit the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Program web page to learn more about the nomination process, eligibility criteria, and more.

All nominations are due by Monday, July 15, 2024. I look forward to celebrating the awardees in a ceremony this December. 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor