Policies for Staff Service Awards

Eligibility

  • All full-time, regular University employment (the last ten years of which are continuous) is counted. After ten years continuous service, an employee may pick up previous years' service and add these to the continuous years.

  • The program recognizes service of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35+ years.

  • Any new employee to the College in a given year becomes eligible for service awards when reaching the next five-year anniversary relative to their University employment.

    • Awards
    Standard Engraving:
  • John Doe
  • In Appreciation of
  • xx Years of Service

    • Standard Award:
  •   5 years = bronze tone medal set in a letter opener, engraved
  • 10 years = Obelisk paperweight with College seal, engraved
  • 15 years = nickel tone set into bookends, engraved
  • 20 years = gold tone medal set into pen set
  • 25 years = University Chair
  • 30 years = framed print of Old Main and the Obelisk, painted by Nancy Strailey, attached engraved tag
  • 35 years = sterling silver medal displayed in a glass enclosure with an attached engraved tag

    • Guidelines for Outstanding Performance Award

    Eligibility Statement
    Staff selected for awards are those who: Qualifications (to include but not limited to)

  • Shows exemplary performance in his/her job
  • Seeks growth as a professional
  • Carries out duties enthusiastically and with integrity and dedication with a commitment to support a diverse work environment
  • Represents favorably the Deparmtent, College and University while conducting University business both on and off campus
  • Fosters an atmosphere of cooperation and creativity, which contributes to efficiency and effectiveness of peers
  • For candidates who supervise others: Exemplifies superior leadership skills, such as skillful motivation, planning and organization

    • Eligibility
    Candidates must be full-time or part-time staff members with a minumum of 12 months of service in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

    Nominations
    Nominations may be initiated by any faculty, staff or student in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Each nomination must consist of:

  • A completed nomination form
  • A letter of support from the nominee's immediate supervisor
  • A letter of support from the department head or appropriate academic administrator, if separate positions. These should be in sealed envelopes and not be viewed by the nominator.

    • Please follow the nomination format.

    Selection
    Selection will be made by a committee appointed by the Dean of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The committee will consist of three (3) previous outstanding award winners within the past three (3) years.

    Frequency
    Past recipients of the Outstanding Award are not eligible for a period of five (5) years. However, past recipients are eligible for Honorable Mentions.

    On the Job 100% Award

    Objective
    The objective of this award is to encourage, promote and reward time on the job-not to measure sick leave. Sick time has been chosen as the best criterion; however, the focus should remain time on the job.

    Eligibility
    An employee must not have any absence charged to sick leave on their vacation card; however, an employee is allowed to have 5 days of family sick leave.

    An employee is allowed to have health maintenance provided; therefore, doctor, dentist, optometrist, etc. appointments are acceptable. These items must be noted as such on the vacation card.

    Wage payroll employees are not eligible for this award.

    Time Period
    The time period for this award will be from November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2006, inclusive. On the last working day in the month of October, vacation cards should be submitted to the supervisor for appropriate signature, with a note attached requesting consideration for the On the Job 100% Award. The card should then be forwarded to the Dean's Office for consideration.

    Clarification
    As specified in the Penn State University Staff Employee Handbook: Except as otherwise provided, an absence is chargeable as sick leave only when the employee is unable to perform his or her duties because of illness or injury.

    Penn State also follows the United State Federal Guidelines that state any employer is required to treat pregnancy and maternity leave the same way that they treat any other illness of injury. f injury.