2004
Models of Excellence Program
Dear Penn Faculty and Staff,
The Models of
Excellence program recognizes staff member contributions to the University
that are above and beyond job expectations and reflect extraordinary
innovation, initiative, leadership, cost-effectiveness, and a deep
commitment to service.
This
program, introduced in 1999, supports the University's standards
for excellence, provides models for emulation, and offers an opportunity
to honor,
award, and celebrate noteworthy accomplishments by Penn staff members.
We
know that each year there are many individual and team accomplishments
worthy of special recognition. We encourage you to let us know of
these staff member achievements through the nomination process described
below.
Thank you for
helping us to identify the important achievements and contributions
of your Penn colleagues that ensure our continued success as a premier
institution of higher education.
Judith Rodin,
President
Robert
Barchi, Provost
Clifford
L. Stanley, Executive Vice President
Standards of Excellence
The following Standards
of Excellence are used by the Selection Committee to identify individual
staff members or staff
teams as "Models of Excellence" for notable contributions to the
mission of the University.
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 otherwise impossible
goals
to be met in support of the University's mission
Nominations
Nominations of staff members* (individuals or teams)
are welcome from any member of the University of Pennsylvania, including
self-nominations. Nominations should apply to notable staff member
contributions to the University during the previous academic year (July
1 through June 30) that are above and beyond job and performance
expectations
Nominations should be typewritten and should include
the following:
1. A brief description of the job responsibilities
of the nominee(s).
2. A one-sentence description of the contribution
and how it reflects one or more of the Standards of Excellence.
3. A description of the achievement, explaining
specifically:
a. how the nominee(s)
went above and beyond job responsibilities and
expectations,
b. what prompted this endeavor, and
c. what Standards of Excellence were utilized
to allow for this extraordinary
outcome.
4. The name, current
title, work address,
e-mail, and work telephone number of the nominator, nominee(s), and
two references (see "References" for more information).
5. The name, title, work address, e-mail, and work
telephone number for the supervisor of each nominated staff member
along with a note of confirmation from the supervisor stating that
a) the staff member did the work that is being nominated and b) he/she
is appropriate for this honor.
* Please note:
This program is designed specifically to recognize contributions
of weekly and monthly paid staff members
of the University of Pennsylvania. Please contact Human Resources
with questions regarding eligibility (see "Questions?" for contact
information).
Nomination materials (including references)
should be sent by intramural mail to:
Human
Resources
QOWL--Models
of Excellence Program
527-A
3401 Walnut/6228
A step-by-step guide to preparing a Models
of Excellence nomination is available at (www.hr.upenn.edu/quality/models/nomination.asp). Nominator
workshops also are available through the Quality of WorkLife (QOWL)
Office. See "Questions?" below for contact information.
References
Each nomination should
be accompanied by two (2) University references from individuals,
other than the nominee's
(or team's) supervisor, familiar with the work cited.
(No more or less than two references should be provided.)
References should confirm and expound on the nominated
achievement, explain how the achievement surpasses job assignment
and performance expectations and demonstrate how it involved the
use of Models Standards of Excellence.
Each reference should
address the contribution of every member of a team nomination,
either as a group or in terms
of each individual.
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).
Timing
All nominations are due by October 30, 2003.
Selection
Individuals and/or
teams are selected as "Models
of Excellence" or accorded an "Honorable Mention" when the contribution
to the University is notable the accomplishment is significantly
above and beyond job and performance expectations and Models Standards
of Excellence were the basis for the outcomes.
Selection Committee
A committee representative of the diversity of our
institution, comprised of Penn leaders, including the Provost, Executive
Vice President, and Vice President of Human Resources, previous Models
of Excellence award winners, and other faculty and staff members
from across the campus, review all nominations and select the award
winners.
Notification
Staff members chosen for these honors are notified
in January and this information is publicized broadly to the University
community.
Celebration
A celebration in
honor of the "Models of Excellence" and "Honorable
Mentions" is held in the spring.
Awards
Staff members identified as Models of Excellence
receive a cash prize of $500 each and a Models of Excellence award.
Staff members receiving an Honorable Mention 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, Director, Quality of Worklife Programs, kraut@hr.upenn.edu or
(215) 898-0380.
Almanac, Vol. 50, No. 3, September 9, 2003
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