Richard E. Gibson Merit Staff Award for Innovation and Excellence in Customer Service

Funded by a generous gift from the estate of Richard E. Gibson, this award is given annually to up to two individuals in the Merit classification.

It recognizes an employee’s outstanding creativity and innovation in process improvement or exceptional achievement in providing customer service. These accomplishments must be outside the employee’s normal job responsibilities or must go above and beyond a position’s standard requirements.

Award recipients will be recognized at a University event in the Fall and will receive a $1,000 stipend and commemorative gift.

Eligibility

All current full-time and part-time (50% or more) Merit staff are eligible.
If you are unsure of the category of your nominee, please check with your Unit HR Representative.
Merit staff members may be awarded the Richard E. Gibson Merit Staff Award for Innovation and Excellence in Customer Service once during their employment at the University of Iowa.
Previously nominated but not selected Merit staff are eligible.
Nominees must be actively employed at the close of the nomination period.

Criteria

Activities must stand out as exceptionally effective contributions to the University community.
Activities must demonstrate exceptional imagination and/or dedication to improving or serving the University community and its customers.
Activities must extend over a significant period.
Activities may include diverse formal and informal contributions of high quality in process improvement, customer service, etc.
Activities may be outside the employee’s normal responsibilities or go above and beyond standard requirements.

Nominations

Any member of the University of Iowa community (faculty, staff, or student) may submit nominations.
Nomination materials must clearly address the award criteria.
Nominators must complete the online nomination form located on the Staff Council Award webpage.
Submissions received after the deadline will not be processed.
Incomplete submissions will be notified and must be resubmitted by the deadline to be considered.

Selection and Notification

The Selection Committee will be appointed by the UI Staff Council Awards Committee and composed of Merit, Merit Supervisory Exempt/Confidential, Professional & Scientific staff, and faculty members (seven total).

Nominators and nominees will be notified of the committee’s decisions via letter from the Office of the President, typically delivered in late August or early September.

After notification, award recipients will be announced in an Iowa Now news release and posted on the Staff Council website.

Required Nomination Materials

Nomination materials may be submitted online using the nomination form link or emailed to staffawards@uiowa.edu.

Nomination Letter

Please limit nomination letters to 750 words.
The nomination letter must speak directly to the nominee’s accomplishments based on the criteria below:
- Activities must stand out as exceptionally effective contributions to the University community.
- Activities must demonstrate exceptional imagination and/or dedication to improving or serving the University community and its customers.
- Activities must extend over a significant period.
- Activities may include diverse formal and informal contributions of high quality in process improvement, customer service, etc.
- Activities may be outside the employee’s normal responsibilities or go above and beyond standard requirements.

Optional Nomination Materials – Up to Two Letters of Support

Limited to one, one-sided page for each letter; font size minimum 10.
Letters of support from various constituents (staff, faculty, students, alumni, patients, customers, suppliers, etc.) are encouraged and have a greater impact than those from the same department.
Letters of support should address the award criteria.
No more than two letters will be accepted. Additional letters will not be considered.

If you have questions concerning your nomination, contact the Staff Awards Committee at staffawards@uiowa.edu.