Nominate a Great Employee or Coworker for a UA Award for Excellence!
Take a look around you. You recognize people who are dedicated to the University of Arizona, who are always ready to help, and who make the University a great place to work. Now, take a moment and nominate those people for an Award for Excellence so that the rest of the University can appreciate them also. The Staff Council sponsors these awards. We urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to nominate someone great today - don't delay, nominations require letters of recommendation!
We invite you to be a judge for the UA Excellence Awards.
University Staff Award for Excellence
Purpose
The University Staff Award for Excellence recognizes University Staff and Classified Staff employees who have demonstrated exceptional performance and made meaningful contributions that go beyond the expectations of their regular job duties. This award honors individuals whose professionalism, innovation, and commitment have enhanced the operations, culture, and success of the University of Arizona.
Award Criteria
Nominees will be evaluated based on actions that exceed standard job performance and reflect sustained excellence. A summary report describing how the nominee meets each of the four criteria listed below is required, along with letters of support that provide specific examples of performance and impact. Support letters should be limited to two pages and, when possible, address multiple criteria.
A. Outstanding Achievement in the Workplace
Recognizing individuals who consistently deliver exceptional results, demonstrate initiative, and positively influence their workplace environment.
Examples of outstanding workplace achievement include:
Achieving significant results that advance the goals of their department or the University
Demonstrating creativity and initiative in improving processes or outcomes
Encouraging collaboration and open exchange of ideas
Identifying opportunities for positive change and taking action to implement improvements
Mentoring and supporting colleagues in their professional development
Actively contributing to committees or initiatives that strengthen the University community
B. Exceptional Contributions to Efficiency and Effectiveness
Recognizing individuals whose efforts have improved the quality, productivity, or sustainability of University operations.
Examples of exceptional contributions include:
Developing innovative or practical solutions that improve workflows or reduce inefficiencies
Streamlining processes to save time, resources, or costs
Improving service to stakeholders such as students, parents, alumni, or employees
Identifying and implementing sustainable or environmentally responsible practices
Providing accessible and transparent guidance to colleagues or campus partners
C. Outstanding Service to the University, Community, and Visitors
Recognizing individuals who go beyond their normal job responsibilities to provide outstanding service, outreach, or engagement within the University and the greater community.
Examples of outstanding service include:
Delivering exceptional support to University projects, committees, or events
Contributing to public service, outreach, or engagement activities
Building partnerships that strengthen the University’s connection with the Tucson community and surrounding regions
Supporting campus programs or resource centers that enhance student, staff, or visitor experiences
Representing the University with professionalism and integrity in all interactions
D. Special Efforts in Creating a Positive and Collaborative Work Environment
Recognizing individuals who foster a welcoming, respectful, and productive workplace where others can do their best work.
Examples of positive workplace contributions include:
Modeling respect, fairness, and professionalism in daily interactions
Encouraging teamwork, trust, and constructive communication
Promoting a sense of belonging and mutual respect among colleagues
Taking initiative to mentor, guide, or support coworkers
Identifying ways to improve morale, communication, or collaboration within the workplace
Eligibility
Nominee must be a University Staff or Classified Staff employee.
Nominee must be benefits-eligible.
Nominee must not have received this award in the previous award cycle.
Nomination Requirements
Each nomination must include a completed application form, a summary report, and up to five (5) letters of support. Resumes, ancillary materials, and more than five letters of recommendation will not be accepted.
The summary report should describe the nominee’s impact and achievements, addressing each of the four award criteria. Please include:
Description of how the nominee’s work supports the mission of their unit, department, or the University
Overview of the nominee’s significant accomplishments and contributions
Examples of how the nominee has demonstrated leadership, innovation, or service beyond their regular duties
Description of the nominee’s positive influence on colleagues, students, and the broader University community
Support letters should collectively highlight as many of the award criteria as possible and include at least one specific example for each.
Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence
Purpose
The Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence recognizes long-term University Staff and Classified Staff employees whose exceptional performance, dedication, and service have made a lasting impact on the University of Arizona. This award honors individuals who have demonstrated consistent excellence, integrity, and commitment throughout a career of at least fifteen (15) years with the University.
Award Criteria
Nominees will be evaluated based on a career of actions that go beyond standard job performance. A summary report describing how the nominee meets each of the four criteria is required, along with letters of support that provide specific examples of performance and impact. Support letters should be limited to two pages and, when possible, address each criterion below.
A. Special Efforts in Fostering a Respectful and Collaborative Work Environment
Recognizing individuals who create a positive, welcoming, and productive workplace where colleagues can contribute their best work.
Examples of actions that promote a strong and respectful work culture include:
Demonstrating professionalism, fairness, and integrity in daily interactions
Encouraging collaboration, open communication, and the exchange of ideas from different perspectives
Mentoring and supporting colleagues to help them grow and succeed
Identifying opportunities to improve workplace processes, communication, or morale
Taking initiative to ensure others feel valued and included in the team’s success
Promoting trust, cooperation, and accountability across the workplace
B. Service to the University
Recognizing individuals who go beyond normal job responsibilities to advance the University’s mission and enhance its operations or community life.
Examples of outstanding University service include:
Making significant contributions that benefit the University or the broader campus community
Acting as a trusted, knowledgeable, and resourceful colleague for students, employees, and leadership
Providing expertise or creative solutions that improve programs, operations, or services
Demonstrating initiative and reliability in representing the University with professionalism and pride
C. Service to University Employees
Recognizing individuals who make exceptional efforts to support the well-being, development, and success of University employees.
Examples of service to employees include:
Helping to foster a positive and supportive workplace for all employees
Promoting fairness, transparency, and access to information or resources
Offering guidance or mentorship to colleagues in ways that strengthen team performance and morale
Taking action to protect, advocate for, or assist employees and students in need of support
D. Service to the Community
Recognizing individuals who extend their service and expertise to benefit the broader community.
Examples of outstanding community service include:
Sharing University knowledge and resources to address community needs or promote learning
Representing the University with integrity and professionalism in community partnerships
Supporting local programs or initiatives that enhance education, outreach, or engagement
Contributing to recruitment, retention, or other University activities that strengthen community ties
Eligibility
Nominee must be a University Staff or Classified Staff employee.
Nominee must be benefits-eligible.
Nominee must have at least fifteen (15) cumulative years of employment at the University.
Individuals are eligible to receive this award only once during their career.
Team Award for Excellence
Purpose
The Team Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding achievement by teams whose collective efforts have made a significant positive impact on University operations, service, or workplace culture. Both functional work teams and project-based teams are eligible for consideration.
Definition of a Team
For this award, a team is defined as a group of two or more individuals, primarily composed of University Staff and/or Classified Staff, who are committed to a shared purpose, pursue common goals, and hold one another mutually accountable for results.
Teams may include faculty, students, or other collaborators; however, the nomination should focus on the contributions of University and Classified Staff members.
Award Criteria
Nominations should highlight actions that go above and beyond standard job performance. Teams will be evaluated based on the following three criteria.
A summary report describing how the nominated team meets each criterion is required, along with letters of support that provide specific examples of performance and impact. Support letters should be limited to two pages and, when possible, address each criterion below.
A. Exceptional Contributions Toward the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Operations
Recognizing teams that set high standards, achieve significant goals, and improve the way work is accomplished.
Examples of exceptional contributions include:
Developing new and creative methods to reduce waste, streamline processes, or improve operations
Implementing solutions that enhance accuracy, consistency, or timeliness in daily work
Improving services or responsiveness to stakeholders such as students, employees, alumni, or community partners
Strengthening collaboration across departments or functions to achieve shared goals
B. Outstanding Service to the University Community and/or Visitors
Recognizing teams that go beyond everyday responsibilities to deliver exceptional service, outreach, or engagement.
Examples of outstanding service include:
Providing excellent support or problem-solving that enhances the experience of students, employees, or visitors
Contributing to University projects, events, or committees that serve the broader campus community
Partnering with University or community organizations to strengthen programs, recruitment, or retention efforts
Demonstrating initiative, reliability, and teamwork in supporting the University’s mission and values
C. Special Efforts in Fostering a Respectful and Collaborative Work Environment
Recognizing teams that create a positive, welcoming, and productive atmosphere where all members can contribute their best work.
Examples of actions that promote a strong and inclusive workplace culture include:
Demonstrating respect, professionalism, and fairness in interactions with colleagues and stakeholders
Encouraging open communication, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas from different perspectives
Taking initiative to ensure all team members feel valued, supported, and engaged in their roles
Promoting a sense of belonging, trust, and teamwork that enhances morale and productivity
Integrating practices that strengthen cooperation and understanding within the team and across the University
Eligibility
The nomination must be based on the excellence, effort, and impact of the University Staff and/or Classified Staff members within the team. While teams may include faculty, students, or other collaborators, the nomination should focus primarily on the contributions of University and Classified Staff as they are the recipients of the award.
Nomination Requirements
Nominations will be submitted through the Each nomination must include a completed application form, one summary report, and up to three letters of support. Resumes, ancillary materials, and more than five (5) letters of support will not be accepted.
The summary report should describe the team’s work, its impact, and how it meets each of the three award criteria. Please include the following information:
Alignment with mission: Describe how the project or work supports the mission of your unit, department, or the University.
Project overview: Define the project or work, identify its goals and objectives, and outline the timeline.
Process and execution: Explain the steps taken to reach milestones or goals.
Team dynamics: Describe how the team communicated, made decisions, assigned tasks, distributed workload, interacted with management, and addressed challenges or conflicts.
Letters of support should provide concrete examples that demonstrate how the team’s work aligns with the award criteria.
Nominations are submitted through the ARIZONA CULTIVATE portal.
Nominations open December 7, 2026. Nominations close January 22, 2027.