Classified Staff Distinguished Achievement Awards

Classified staff play a vital role in the successful operation of the School of Education. Too often, however, their many contributions go unrecognized. The School of Education is therefore pleased to invite nominations for its classified staff awards.

Two $1,000 classified staff awards will be presented in 2012. One classified staff award is made possible by gifts from the School's alumni, and one is made possible by a generous gift from Claire and Ron Shaffer. Because of similarities in the criteria for these two awards, separate nominations are not necessary.

Eligibility: Any classified staff employee of the School of Education who has made an exemplary contribution to the operation of the School, department, center, program, or other unit within the School is eligible. Nominees may be from any area and must have had at least a half-time appointment in the School for three years.

Criteria for all awards: Outstanding performance on the job; promoting the image of the department or university through continued contacts with those being served; consistently promoting excellence in him/herself and colleagues; initiating or recommending innovative ideas that are implemented and result in better service or efficiency; and exhibiting grace under pressure.

Shaffer award: In addition, the recipient of the Claire Shaffer Award will be selected with special attention to the following: playing a critical role on office teams; dealing with students and/or others who contact the office; employing skill, grace, humor, and balanced judgment; managing significant programs independently; exhibiting professional growth in the position/classification; and assuming additional responsibilities in the job.

Nomination Procedures: The nomination packet* should include the following items:

• Letter of nomination
• Résumé or career overview of no more than two pages, containing:
  1) Name
  2) Job title or classification
  3) Duration and responsibilities of the current position
  4) Duration and responsibilities of former positions in the School of Education
  5) Other positions held at UW-Madison
• One letter of support that meets these criteria:
  1) It should make clear to someone outside the nominee's unit why the work is outstanding.
  
  2) Neither the Dean nor any member of the review committee may nominate or write a letter of support.
  
  3) The most effective letters of support will come from someone familiar with the nominee's work and will contain a detailed analysis of how the person meets the award criteria; these might come from faculty and staff coworkers, clients, students, or supervisors.
  
  

  *Nominations remain active for two years beyond the year of submission. Previous recipients of SoE classified staff awards may be renominated in 2012, so long as there was no cash prize made when they were selected.
  

Submission: Submit nomination packets Ashley Voss, no later than Monday, February 27, 2012. Nominations may be submitted electronically to avoss@wisc.edu or in person/by mail to the External Relations Office, 181 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706.

For more information, contact Ashley at 265-7875 or avoss@wisc.edu.

Review & Selection: The packets will be reviewed by a committee chosen by Dean Underwood. Recipients will be informed in early March and will be recognized at the school-wide awards ceremony on April 11, 2012 in the Wisconsin Idea Room (159 Education Building).

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