Staff Recognition Awards

Awards and criteria

The basis for each award selection will be determined by meeting most or all of the criteria for each award. The following awards and criteria descriptions are offered as guidelines for nominations.

Innovation

Innovation is a core component of the College of Engineering’s mission and this award recognizes an individual who embodies this spirit of innovation. Possible criteria include an individual who:

• Developed an effective solution to a difficult problem in a productive manner or improved a solution’s overall effectiveness through a new method or approach
• Developed and implemented a plan that benefits the community
• Generated valuable ideas that have helped to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, programs, or services for their team, department, or the college

Inspirational Leadership

This award recognizes an individual who inspires others. They influence without authority, often putting the interests of others ahead of their own, and serve as “a champion for staff.” Possible criteria include an individual who:

• Fosters an atmosphere of collaboration and creativity, which contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of productivity
• Demonstrates leadership qualities by effectively managing their staff, service, system or work
• Leads changes or improvements for the benefit of their peers
• Inspires and motivates others to take advantage of opportunities that enhance their professional or personal lives
• Empowers others to achieve results in support of their organization or college’s goals

Continuous Excellence

This award recognizes an individual who continuously seeks excellence in practice. They often “take it to the next level.” Possible criteria include an individual who:

• Displays initiative and excellence in performing core job requirements
• Demonstrates professional behavior through their willingness to cooperate, work, and communicate with others in the workplace
• Successfully exceeds the goals of the organization through dedication to their organization and the college
• Additional Eligibility: Staff who have served in the College for more than two years as of November 1 of the nominating year.

Spirit

This award recognizes an individual who has selflessly improved the lives of others either in the College of Engineering or within the greater community. Possible criteria include an individual who:

• Demonstrates exceptional service to the college and/or community at large (e.g. voluntary participation in community groups, boards, or charitable organizations)
• Goes above and beyond in their work in order to help others and does so with a high degree of excellence, professionalism, and integrity; thus, contributing significantly to improving the overall College of Engineering environment and experience

Rookie Award

This award recognizes an outstanding College of Engineering staff member who has been a part of the College for a period of six months to two years as of November 1 in the nomination year. Previous Rookie Award winners are not eligible to win the Rookie Award again.

The basis for selection will be excellence in the areas of Job Performance, Dedication, Positive Attitude and contributions as a Team Player. For additional clarification, please refer to the same guidelines as outlined in the Staff Recognition Award Nomination Criteria.

The Burritt Education Award

Tim Burritt, former undergraduate advisor for the College of Engineering, worked diligently at completing his bachelor’s degree at Duquesne University while excelling at his work duties. Tim’s accomplishments and pride in the College of Engineering are remembered through the Burritt Education Award. This award is open to all full- or part-time Staff members who are enrolled in any degree program at any institution. Possible criteria includes:

• Maintains balance of work and school
• Shows perseverance in quest for education
• Enthusiastic about the value of continuing education
• Additional Eligibility: Any College of Engineering staff member who is enrolled as a continuing education student at any degree level and at any institution during the current calendar year is eligible, including recent graduates.

College of Engineering Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Staff Award

As part of College of Engineering’s strong commitment in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the workplace and CMU community, the College of Engineering Staff Award Committee would like to introduce a new award for this new academic/fiscal year (2023-2024), the College of Engineering Commitment to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Belonging Staff Award. This new award would honor and recognize a staff member who is not only a champion but demonstrates a continued dedication and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging that results in taking purposeful and tangible actions that have cultivated positive outcomes in achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the college and within the CMU community. The establishment of the new award will help the Committee raise awareness of the value, importance, and need for a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming workplace at the university. Possible criteria includes:

• Cultivates and nurtures a welcoming environment.
• Promotes resources and tools related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to enhance the variety of student, staff, and faculty experiences at the College of Engineering and CMU.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing their own awareness, knowledge and skills related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Dedication in raising awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within relations to the College of Engineering’s mission and for the greater good of the CMU community.
• Recognized as a trailblazer in taking tangible action to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the College and within the CMU community.
• Makes purposeful as well as impactful changes within the College of Engineering and CMU community related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Contributed to the implementation, creation, and/or innovation of initiatives, programs, committees, policies, events, sponsorships, and/or campaigns that have positively impacted the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the College of Engineering and within the CMU Community.
• Provided support for inclusive, equitable, and/or diversity-related educational and professional development opportunities and within the College of Engineering and CMU community.

Eligibility

The Staff Recognition Awards are open to full- or part-time College of Engineering staff members who have been with the College of Engineering for more than six months as of November 1 of the nomination year.

The following are not eligible:

• Current Staff Awards Committee members
• Staff members who have received a Staff Recognition Award in the last three years
• College of Engineering faculty members, including special faculty
• Group nominations of more than two individuals (nominations are only accepted for individuals and pairs)

If you are unsure if a potential nominee fits the criteria, check the list of eligible staff.

Nomination requirements

Any Carnegie Mellon staff member, faculty member, graduate student, or undergraduate student may submit a nomination. Packets should include the following:

• Submission of the nomination form with narrative justification of your position that the nominee satisfies the criteria detailed within.
• One letter of reference not exceeding two pages from another Carnegie Mellon staff, faculty, or student; this may include letters from outside the department and can be submitted by an individual or group to support the nomination.
• For any nomination packages that either do not meet the award criteria, or are not in compliance with the procedures listed above, the awards committee may reject the package or ask for a resubmission of the nomination package. Once requested, the nominator (or a designee) will have 48 hours to resubmit or the package will be rejected.