Employee Recognition
Employee Recognition at UIC Heading link
UIC has a long and cherished tradition of recognizing its employees for outstanding merit and years of service. UIC Human Resources works in conjunction with academic and administrative units and affiliated University organizations to honor these achievements at the annual Employee Recognition Award Ceremony held each fall.
In addition to service and merit recipients honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony, numerous awards for faculty, research, and individual department achievements are awarded throughout the year by various University units and organizations.
Employee Recognition Month
Each November is Employee Recognition Month at UIC. This special time of year includes departmental ceremonies as well as University-wide programs, planned for the purpose of honoring faculty and staff. In addition to University-wide and individual department merit awards earned for outstanding achievements, UIC honors its employees for years of service beginning at five years and continuing after each five-year increment. In 2022, UIC honored over 2,000 employees for years of service.
Employee Recognition Award Ceremony
Save the Date! November 7, 2024
The Employee Recognition Award Ceremony is a University-wide program that serves to publicly recognize work and community accomplishments, which in turn, helps to build morale and motivate our employees. Employees with 25 or more years of service are honored, along with multiple merit awards.
Special merit awards recognized in the Employee Recognition Program are Award of Merit (AOM), Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE), Rising Star Award, and Janice Watkins Award.
Service year awards recognized in the Employee Recognition Program include 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 years of eligible service to the University. Individual departments will honor those with 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of eligible service.
We look forward to celebrating with you during the month of November.
Employee Awards Honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony Heading link
Click here to view 2024 Merit Award Recipients.
Service Recognition Awards Heading link
Service Recognition Awards recognize Academic Professionals and Civil Service employees and faculty for years of service to UIC in five-year increments starting with 25 years of service. Departmentally, employees are recognized for every 5 years of service.
Award of Merit Heading link
The Award of Merit recognizes outstanding Academic Professionals and Civil Service employees. It is a university-wide honor available to UIC campus staff who exhibit service, commitment, and dedication. Award recipients receive a $3,000 monetary award and a memento gift.
CAPE Award Heading link
The Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award (CAPE Award) was established in 1988. It recognizes the demonstrated excellence of Academic Professional staff. It encourages their professional development and indicates the institution’s high regard for the contributions of this key segment of the university community. The CAPE award is based on peer review broadly selected from the ranks of the Academic Professionals throughout campus. The CAPE Selection Committee is a standing committee of APAC and is chaired by an APAC member. The Selection Committee is made up of Academic Professionals from both the east and west campuses which may include past CAPE recipients. UIC faculty, Academic Professionals, Civil Service employees, and students can nominate a deserving Academic Professional for the award. In 2019 there were six recipients of the CAPE Award. Honorees receive a memento gift, a $1,000 permanent increase to the individual’s salary, and a $2,500 one-time cash award.
Janice Watkins Award Heading link
The Janice Watkins Award recognizes exceptional Civil Service employees for their distinguished service to the University. Sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council, the design for the award is based on three interlocking components signifying the unity of faculty, staff, and students of the University of Illinois Chicago. The award is a token of gratitude from the university and is awarded to Civil Service employees who exhibit a pleasant, warm demeanor and provide willing assistance to others and perform duties with diligence and dedication. The nominations can be submitted by faculty, staff, or students familiar with the nominee’s activities. Honorees receive a $2,000 monetary award.
Rising Star Award Heading link
The Rising Star Award was created in 2021 to recognize Academic Professionals early in their career who demonstrate dedication and quality of performance that indicates they will continue to develop into an exemplary employee. As with CAPE, the Rising Star Selection Committee is a standing committee of APAC. UIC faculty, Academic Professionals, Civil Service employees, and students are encouraged to nominate employees who personify commitment, integrity, and professionalism to the mission of their department, College or University unit. Up to three Academic Professionals per year with a minimum of three years and a maximum of seven years of service will be honored. Award recipients will receive a memento gift and a $1,500 monetary award.
UI Health Heading link
Employee and Physician Recognition
Hospital guests and staff may nominate employees for recognition. These recipients continuously contribute to the delivery of world class patient care; regularly show good judgement and initiative and go above and beyond performance expectations and exemplify the I CARE behaviors.
Recognition Awards throughout UIC Heading link
Office of Faculty Affairs
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
VCSA Contact: Tenisha Burnett, 312-996-7140, tenisha@uic.edu
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Outstanding New Staff Award
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Outstanding Staff Award
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Outstanding Program Award
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Outstanding Department Award
UI Health
UI Health Employee Recognition Program
UI Health Employee Recognition Team, recognition@uic.edu
UI Health Recognition Awards
UI Health Employee Recognition Contact:
Cathy Temple, lovelycm@uic.edu
Support Contacts
UIC Human Resources, Special Programs
General Email: specialprograms@uillinois.edu