College Policy Number/Title:

• 63.06  Personnel Administration

Service Awards

The college recognizes dedicated service and the value of the skill, knowledge, and judgment gained through years of experience.  All full- and part-time employees with a minimum of five years of service in a position control/budgeted position are acknowledged at an annual campus event.  Additional five-year milestones meeting the same service criteria are honored as well.  All position control/budgeted employees with an eligible anniversary date in a given calendar year will receive recognition in that calendar year.

If a full- or part-time, position control/budgeted employee has resigned and is rehired by the college within two years, the employee will receive credit toward their service calculations for those prior years.

Faculty and Staff Achievement Awards

Special achievement awards may be given annually to a full-time faculty member, adjunct faculty, and staff in recognition of exceptional performance of assigned duties.  These awards honoring exceptional achievement are based on exemplary leadership, outstanding service to faculty, staff, or students, commitment to the goals of the college, and outstanding performance beyond job expectations.

• Educator - Outstanding Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty Awards - as determined by divisions
• Support Group Employee of the Year
• Professional/Technical Employee of the Year
• Administrative/Division Chair Employee of the Year
• Hourly/Temporary/Contractual employees (such as food service or security)  Employee of the Year

The criterion for faculty awards is teaching excellence.  The schedule and process for the faculty awards will be determined by academic affairs staff.

Staff Award Procedures (Support Group; Professional/Technical; Administrative/Division Chair; Hourly/Temporary/Contractual)

Criteria for nomination may include but are not limited to:

• Vision:  This individual embodies our vision statement of "working together to stimulate students, faculty, and all members of our learning community to develop their talents and to discover their greatness.”  The individual's contribution could come in many forms: advising students, developing programs, mentoring fellow staff, reducing obstacles to learning, or any activity that has enabled someone to develop more of their potential.
• Customer Service: This individual provided exceptional service to help someone "get there from here.”  This service includes not only helping students who come to HCC to pursue their goals, but also promoting the college and working with external constituencies.
• Dedication:  This individual may not have a highly visible or customer relations role, but has made a significant contribution to the college. Contributions could include improving a process, saving money, or solving a problem.

1. Semi-finalists receive a letter of commendation from the president, which goes into their human resources file or to the external firm if they are a contractual employee.
2. Winners receive certificates of recognition, bookstore gift certificate, and recognition at the Howard Community College spring convocation.
3. Winners receive letters from the president.

1. January of each year – President opens nomination process
2. March  – nominations due
3. March  – nominations sorted and delivered to the president or area vice presidents
4. March – president congratulates nominees with a letter of commendation
5. April – president’s staff forwards finalists names to college council
6. April – college council members select the four winners (one from each employee constituency) and forward the names to the president  (Note: if a college council member or substitute has nominated someone, then he/she will abstain from voting in that particular nominee’s category.)
7. May – winners recognized at spring convocation with a certificate of recognition and a bookstore gift certificate
8. May – letters go in nominees’ and winners’ personnel files or to the external firm if they are contractual employees