2002 Models of Excellence Program

Dear Penn Faculty and Staff,

The Models of Excellence program provides an opportunity for recognizing outstanding staff member achievements--above and beyond job expectations--that make significant contribution to the University of Pennsylvania.

This program, successfully introduced in 1999, supports the values of the University; provides models for emulation; and offers an opportunity to honor, award, and celebrate outstanding accomplishments by individual Penn staff members and teams.

We know that each year there are many staff member accomplishments worthy of recognition. We encourage you to let us know of these achievements through the nomination process described below.

Thank you for helping us identify the important achievements of your Penn colleagues that ensure our continued success as a premier institution of higher education.

--Judith Rodin, President

--Robert Barchi, Provost

--John Fry, Executive Vice President

Excellence Criteria

The following excellence criteria will be used by the Selection Committee to identify individual staff members or staff teams as "Models of Excellence" for outstanding contribution to the mission of the University. Extremely noteworthy contribution will receive "Honorable Mention."

Supportive Practices, Procedures, and Policies

• Bringing about significant positive change for the University's mission,
• Eliminating significant obstacles to achieving the University's mission,
• Resolving, in unique/novel ways, problems that impede progress.

Innovative and Proactive Leadership

• Utilizing highly effective and/or novel practices to inspire and lead others to contribute constructively to the University's mission,
• Proactively identifying and resolving challenges that interfere with team/unit/school/center activities to further the University's mission,
• Encouraging a coordinated effort by a complex group and facilitating the group's ability to meet complicated goals.

Extraordinary Service to Key Constituencies

• Supporting internal and/or external constituencies in ways that exceed expectations and result in unexpected and very positive outcomes that support the University's mission.

Substantial Cost-effectiveness

• Identifying improvements to University practices, policies and/or program designs that result in substantial cost savings or financial gain to the University while enhancing the organization's ability to support the University's mission.

Exemplary Relationship Building Within and/or
Outside of the Immediate Organization

• Developing and utilizing strong, constructive and productive relationships that enable goals to be met that would be impossible otherwise.

Nominations

Nominations of staff members (individuals or teams) are welcome from any full or part-time faculty or staff members of the University of Pennsylvania, including self-nominations. Nominations should:

1. Apply to notable achievements by staff member(s) that are above and beyond job expectations
2. Apply to achievements that occurred during the previous academic year
3. Include a one-sentence description of the achievement
4. Include a brief description of the standard job responsibilities of the nominee(s)
5. Offer a typewritten (no more than 2 pages), detailed description of the achievement, explaining how the nominee(s) went above and beyond job expectations utilizing standards of excellence reflective of the Models of Excellence.
6. Include the name, work address, e-mail, and work telephone number of the nominator, nominee(s), and the nominee(s) supervisor.

References

Each nomination should be accompanied by two University references from individuals familiar with the work cited. References should confirm and expound on the described achievements and how they surpassed job expectations. No more or less than two references should be provided, one of which should be a supervisor of the nominee(s). If the nominator is the supervisor, please provide two other sources of reference.

References should be typewritten and limited to one page each. These references should be included as part of the nomination in sealed envelopes labeled with the name(s) of the nominee(s).

Nomination materials AND references should be sent by intramural mail to:

QOWL--Models of Excellence Program,

527-A 3401 Walnut/6228

Timing

All nominations are due by November 12, 2001. Nominations should apply to achievements that occurred during the previous academic year.

Selection

Individuals and/or teams will be selected as "Models of Excellence" or accorded "Honorable Mention" based on the notable nature of their contribution to the University and the use of excellence practices to achieve outcomes above and beyond job expectations. The number of awards given annually will be a reflection of the very high standards associated with these awards.

Selection Committee

A committee of Penn leaders, including the Provost, Executive Vice President, Vice President of Human Resources, previous Models of Excellence award winners, and other staff members from across the campus will review all nominations and select the award winners for the 2002 program.

Notification

Staff members chosen for these honors will be notified in January and this information will be publicized broadly to the University community.

Celebration

A celebration in honor of the "Models of Excellence" and "Honorable Mentions" will be held on April 15, 2002.

Awards

Staff members identified as Models of Excellence will receive a cash prize of $500 each and a Models of Excellence award.

Staff members receiving Honorable Mention will receive a cash prize of $250 and an Honorable Mention award.

Questions?

For more information about this program, see www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/models or contact Marilyn Kraut, Manager, Quality of Worklife Programs (kraut@hr.upenn.edu or (215) 898-0380).

Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 3, September 11, 2001

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

Tuesday,
September 11, 2001
Volume 48 Number 3
www.upenn.edu/almanac/