Award of Merit
Award of Merit Heading link
The Award of Merit (AOM) is designed to recognize outstanding Civil Service and Academic Professional employees. It is a university-wide award honoring staff who exhibit excellence in service, commitment, and dedication.
A call for nominations for AOM is announced each Spring with recipients being honored at the Annual UIC Employee Recognition Award Ceremony held in November.
Award Timeline Heading link
2024 Timeline
April 1 Nominations open
June 3 (midnight) Deadline for all nominations to be submitted
September Awardees notified
November 7 Awardees honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony
Award Information Heading link
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Criteria
1. Overall excellence in all aspects of work performance
2. Consistent delivery of user responsive service
3. Creativity in problem solving and initiative
4. Commitment to individual development and fostering growth
5. Promotion of morale through demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and enhancing the work environment
6. Sensitivity to diversity, inclusion, and affirmative action accomplishments
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Eligibility
- Civil Service and Academic Professional employees at UIC, including those based at regional campuses are eligible.
- Nominees must be employed for at least three consecutive years at full-time or six consecutive years at 50% time (or higher). Qualifying years of service must be completed by April 1 of the nomination year.
- Service eligibility must meet service recognition guidelines outlined under UIC Human Resources Policy 704: UIC Award of Merit Program.
- Previous winners may be nominated for subsequent Awards of Merit, provided that a minimum of five years has elapsed between the last award and the next nomination.
- Previous winners of the CAPE Award or Rising Star Award may be nominated for the Award of Merit, provided that a minimum of five years has elapsed since the last time receiving the CAPE Award or Rising Star Award.
- Academic Professional employees with an academic rank (faculty title) are not eligible for the Award of Merit. Final review and decision will be determined by UIC Human Resources.
- Any employee with disciplinary action on their University employment record within the last three years or who has been issued a terminal contract, with the exception of those Academic Professionals undergoing conversion to a Civil Service position, are not eligible for the Award of Merit. Information will be verified with the nominee’s unit.
- An employee may not receive more than one of the following awards in the same Employee Recognition season: Award of Merit, CAPE Award, Rising Star, and Janice Watkins Award.
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The Award
Award recipients receive $3,000 and a memento gift. They are honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony held annually each November.
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Unit Award Allocation
31 total awards will be given in 2024
- Combined Units: 2 Award
- -Office of the Chancellor
- -Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement
- -Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Engagement
- -Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance
- -Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation
- -Office of the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications
- Combined Academic and Administrative Units: 12 Awards
- -Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
- -Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
- Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services: 4 Awards
- Vice Chancellor for Research: 2 Awards
- Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs: 1 Award
- UI Health: 10 Awards
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How to Submit a Nomination
- Obtain 2-5 Letters of Support. One of the letters may be from the Nominator.
- Include a Statement of Support from the Nominee’s Supervisor. A copy of an email expressing approval is acceptable.
- Complete the online nomination form (link coming soon) and upload all of the above by June 3, 2024.
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Nomination Contacts
General questions can be directed to Special Programs – specialprograms@uillinois.edu
Combined Units: Tiffany Gonzales – tiffanyg@uic.edu.
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Engagement
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications
Combined Academic Units reporting to the Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs: aom_pvcaa_vcha@uic.edu
Units will receive additional communication from their colleges/schools/administrative office regarding additional internal submission deadlines.
UI Health: recognition@uic.edu Cathy Temple, lovelycm@uic.edu or Stacy Gilmer vojta2@uic.edu
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services: La Donna Hudson – ldhudson@uic.edu.
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research: Ron Puskarits – puskarit@uic.edu.
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs: Tenisha Burnett – tenisha@uic.edu.
AOM Hall of Fame Heading link
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2023 Hall of Fame
32 outstanding employees received the Award of Merit in 2023.
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2022 Hall of Fame
32 outstanding employees received the Award of Merit in 2023.
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2003 - 2021 Hall of Fame
Click here to view AOM recipients dating back to 2003.
More information Heading link
More information on Employee Recognition at UIC.
Contact: UIC Human Resources – Special Programs
specialprograms@uillinois.edu