Distinguished Staff Award

While we believe the true honor is the nomination itself, the selection committee is excited to award up four individual awards and one team award each year. In order to make that selection, nominations are evaluated first to ensure the nominee meets baseline eligibility criteria and then rated using the rubric below.

Baseline eligibility criteria

  • Nominee is currently employed by UW in a contract-covered, classified non-union, or professional staff position with a 50% or greater regular appointment.
  • Nominee has been employed at UW for a minimum of six months as of October 1, 2023 (start date prior to April 1, 2023).
  • For team nominations, team must be primarily compromised of staff that fit the above baseline criteria but may include other position types and/or newly hired staff that are part of the team. A team is defined as a group of people (ideally 2 – 10 individuals) who work together to achieve a common goal. While there is no team size maximum, nominating an extraordinarily large team or full department creates complexities for the DSA reception and the Awards of Excellence, should the team be selected for the award. Please contact uwdsa@uw.edu for a consultation in advance of submitting a larger team nomination.

Rubric based on category of excellence

Nominated for 10 points 5 points 1 point Nominated for 10 points: 1 distinguished service points available
Collaboration: Accomplished an outstanding achievement through collaboration or provides ongoing excellence through effective collaboration. Nomination clearly details examples of contributions made through effective collaboration. Nomination provides limited information about contributions made through effective collaboration. Nomination doesn’t provide information about contributions or ability to effectively collaborate. Add 1 to 3 distinguished service points if the impact of accomplishments extend what beyond what might be expected given the scope of their position(s).
Innovation: Created lasting change through implementing an innovative solution to a complex problem or driving a significant effort that enhanced service and/or efficiency. Nomination clearly details examples of impact to the University by implementing an innovative solution to a complex problem or driving a significant change management effort that enhanced service and/or efficiency. Nomination provides limited information about impact to the University by implementing an innovative solution to a complex problem or driving a significant change management effort that enhanced service and /or efficiency. Nomination doesn’t provide information of demonstrated impact to the University by implementing an innovative solution to a complex problem or driving a significant change management effort that enhanced service and/or efficiency. Add 1 to 3 distinguished service points if the impact of accomplishments extend what beyond what might be expected given the scope of their position(s).
Career achievement: Nominee has many years of dedicated service to the UW and demonstrated excellence throughout their career. Nomination clearly details examples of staff member’s dedicated service to the UW and demonstrated excellence throughout their career. Nomination provides limited information of staff member’s dedicated service to the UW and demonstrated excellence throughout their career. Nomination doesn’t provide information of staff member’s dedicated service to the UW and demonstrated excellence throughout their career. Add 1 to 3 distinguished service points if the impact of accomplishments extend what beyond what might be expected given the scope of their position.
Impact: Provided significant impact at UW — either at the team, department or institution level or which has helped a specific audience or community. Nomination clearly details examples of significant impact at UW — either at the team, department or institution level or which has helped a specific audience or community. Nomination provides limited information of demonstrating significant impact or which has helped a specific audience or community. Nomination doesn’t provide information of demonstrating significant impact. Add 1 to 3 distinguished service points if the impact of accomplishments extend what beyond what might be expected given the scope of their position(s).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Work contributes to building welcoming and respectful learning and working environments and/or whose work promotes access, opportunity and justice. Nomination clearly details examples of contributing to building welcoming and respectful learning and working environments and/or whose work promotes access, opportunity and justice. Nomination provides limited information about work contributing to building welcoming and respectful learning and working environments and/or whose work promotes access, opportunity and justice. Nomination doesn’t provide information about work contributing to building welcoming and respectful learning and working environments and/or whose work promotes access, opportunity and justice. Add 1 to 3 distinguished service points if the impact of accomplishments extend what beyond what might be expected given the scope of their position(s).

The selection committee co-chairs will help facilitate the selection process and ensure that the final awardee mix represents the diversity of position types and locations of the University.