UMSI Faculty and Staff Handbook/Policies/Resource Guide

Staff Awards

There are six UMSI internal staff awards:

Outstanding Staff Recognition Award
Emerging Impact Award
MUMSI: Collaboration and Service Award
Innovation Excellence Award (Individual)
Innovation Excellence Award (Team)
The Barb Smith "Making It Better" Award

Nomination Forms

All nomination forms include:

The option to submit the nomination statement in the form of a video is available upon request. Please be prepared to provide a transcript if you choose this option. Contact UMSI HR (umsi-hr-contact@umich.edu) to request the video submission guidelines.
An option to submit up to four statements of support from staff, faculty, and students, separate from the nomination statement (250 word limit each). In the past, nominators have often incorporated supporting statements in their nomination statements. We added this option to the 2024 forms to make sure that all nominators are aware that it is an option to provide additional weight and evidence of achievement to the nomination, although it is not required and nominations are judged on the awardees’ fit for the award.
An option to provide links to a project, such as a website or Google Drive file, in a separate field outside the nomination statement.

If you are looking for university-wide staff awards, see this page of the Staff Handbook.

FAQ

Who can nominate?

All regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) and faculty in the School. Self-nominations are also acceptable and encouraged.

Who is eligible?

Nominees for UMSI staff awards must be regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School. Staff who have won the award in the past 5 years are not eligible. The list of past recipients can be found here. Each nominee can only win one award per cycle, but this does not apply to the team award, i.e. it is possible to win both an individual and team award but not multiple individual awards in one cycle.

Who serves on the selection committee?

The chair of the committee will be one of the School’s senior management team members and they will serve on an alphabetical, rotating basis. In addition, the award winners from last year will serve on the selection committee.

How many nominations can I submit?

Each staff or faculty member can submit one nomination per award. However, this does not preclude providing supporting statements to multiple nominations.

Can I self-nominate for an award?

Yes. This is acceptable and encouraged.

Can someone win more than one award in the same year?

No. Each staff member can only win one award per year with the exception of the Innovation Excellence Team Award, i.e. it is possible to win both an individual and a team award in the same year.

Do I have to submit supporting statements with my nomination?

No. These are not required. This option was added as its own section in the forms because many nominators were including supporting statements from staff, faculty, and students in their nomination statements. We suggest keeping these statements brief (less than 250 words) if you choose to include them.

Can I edit or add material to nominations after I have submitted my nomination form?

Yes. You can re-open the form and edit your submission until the deadline.

How will the awardees be recognized?

The awardees will be recognized at the first School of Information combined faculty and staff meeting in September.

Who serves on the selection committee?

How will my nomination be evaluated?

In the interests of transparency, the staff awards committee has provided the evaluation rubrics along with the descriptions of the awards on this page.

Awards and Nomination Forms

1. Outstanding Staff Recognition Award

Here is the nomination form.

This award may be given annually to a UMSI staff member who has contributed outstandingly to advancing the UMSI mission. This may be accomplished in various ways, such as exhibiting exemplary work qualities, solving challenging problems, demonstrating a willingness to go the extra mile, or fostering the collaboration of others.

Award Criteria:

Advances the UMSI mission in an outstanding manner
Demonstrates exemplary work qualities
Solves challenging problems
Demonstrates willingness to go the extra mile
Fosters collaborative relationships

Eligibility: All regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School. Staff who have won the award in the past 5 years are not eligible. The list of past recipients can be found here.

Award amount: $2,000

The rubric is provided here.

2. Emerging Impact Award

Here is the nomination form.

This honor recognizes outstanding contributions made by a recent UMSI staff member who has demonstrated remarkable impact within their initial 36 months of service. The UMSI Emerging Impact Award celebrates individuals who, despite their relatively short tenure, have showcased exceptional dedication, innovation, and a significant positive influence on the UMSI community above and beyond their assigned duties. Nominees for this award have made substantial contributions that align with UMSI's mission and goals. They have demonstrated a keen ability to adapt, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the school's objectives in their early stages of joining the team. This award highlights the invaluable contributions of rising stars within UMSI, individuals whose enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, and impactful initiatives have left a notable mark on the school's community and its mission to advance knowledge and excellence.

Eligibility: All regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School who have held this status in SI for no more than 3 years as of July 1st of the current year. Please contact HR for eligibility inquiries. Staff may only win this award once.

Award amount: $2,000

The rubric is provided here.

3. MUMSI: Collaboration and Service Award

Here is the nomination form.

Taking its name from UMSI’s mascot, MUMSI the squirrel, the MUMSI: Collaboration and Service Award recognizes an individual who has made exceptional contributions to and positively impacted UMSI, builds partnerships that benefit, align with, and advance UMSI’s priorities. This award aims to recognize a staff member who serves and collaborates with other groups or teams within UMSI or across U-M and beyond. This person forges new relationships, fosters connectedness, and goes out of their way to bridge gaps between colleagues and work areas or areas external to UMSI or U-M. The collaboration and service should enhance the experience of students, faculty, or fellow staff and positively impact UMSI.

This form will automatically verify and collect your U-M email. It will also send you a copy of your nomination once you submit this form. You may continue to edit your response until the nomination deadline.

Eligibility: All regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School. Staff who have won the award in the past 5 years are not eligible.

Award amount: $2,000

The rubric is provided here.

4. Innovation Excellence Award (Individual)

Innovation Excellence Award (Individual) nomination form

This award honors individuals whose pioneering solutions have addressed significant challenges within UMSI, showcasing exceptional innovation, problem-solving methodologies, and a willingness to take informed risks to enhance the school's operational landscape.

The UMSI Innovation Excellence Award recognizes those who have demonstrated groundbreaking approaches, fostering a culture of forward-thinking problem-solving that transcends conventional boundaries. Nominees for this award have not only provided innovative solutions but have also articulated methodologies that inspire others and contribute to the continuous improvement of UMSI's work environment. This award emphasizes solutions that directly align with the school's primary goals, amplifying its core objectives through inventive problem-solving. It celebrates initiatives that not only tackle challenges but also pave the way for improved methodologies, encouraging a culture of informed risk-taking and innovation within UMSI.

Eligibility: All regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School. Staff who have won the award in the past 5 years are not eligible.

Award amount: $2,000

Innovation Excellence Award (Individual) rubric

5. Innovation Excellence Award (Team)

Innovation Excellence Award (Team) nomination form

This award honors teams whose pioneering solutions have addressed significant challenges within UMSI, showcasing exceptional innovation, problem-solving methodologies, and a willingness to take informed risks to enhance the school's operational landscape. The UMSI Innovation Excellence Award recognizes a team who has demonstrated groundbreaking approaches, fostering a culture of forward-thinking problem-solving that transcends conventional boundaries. Nominees for this award have provided innovative solutions and articulated methodologies that inspire others and contribute to the continuous improvement of UMSI's work environment. This award emphasizes solutions that directly align with the school's primary goals, amplifying its core objectives through inventive problem-solving. It celebrates initiatives that not only tackle challenges but also pave the way for improved methodologies, encouraging a culture of informed risk-taking and innovation within UMSI.

Eligibility: A team of 2 or more UMSI staff. The team members can be from an assigned team or a cross-disciplinary ad hoc team. Recipients must be regular (non-temporary) staff (full-time or part-time) in the School. Teams who have won the award in the past 5 years are not eligible. This is the first year this award has been offered.

Award amount: Each team member will receive $1,000, however, the total award amount is capped at $5,000. Teams of more than 5 people must split this amount evenly.

Innovation Excellence Award (Team) rubric

6. The Barb Smith "Making It Better" Award

The Barb Smith "Making It Better" Award nomination form

Conflicts of Interest

In ensuring the integrity and fairness of the UMSI staff awards program, we prioritize the diligent management of conflicts of interest, particularly regarding award committee members and/or annual reviewers (i.e. the previous year's honorees) who may themselves be nominated for recognition. To uphold the highest standards of transparency and impartiality, our procedures include several considerations to mitigate potential conflicts.

Firstly, we suggest disclosing any personal or professional relationships that could influence decision-making. Additionally, committee members abstain from participating in discussions or voting related to their own nominations. Moreover, we regularly review and rotate committee membership to diversify perspectives and prevent undue influence. By adhering to these measures, we uphold the integrity of the UMSI awards process and ensure equitable recognition of deserving staff members.