Award of Merit
Award of Merit
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
2026 Timeline
April 1 Nominations open
May 27 (12:00 pm) Deadline for all nominations to be submitted
September Award Recipients Announced
November 5 Awardees honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony
Award Information
Criteria
Updated last year! Nominators, be prepared with a short paragraph for each award criteria listed below when submitting your nomination online. Text can be taken directly from letters of support.
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
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.
The Award
Award recipients receive $3,000 and a memento gift. They are honored at the Employee Recognition Award Ceremony held annually each November.
Unit Award Allocation
31 Total Awards will be given in 2026.
Combined Chancellor Units: 2
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement
- Office of the Vice Chancellor for 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
Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs: 12
UI Health: 10
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services: 4
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research: 2
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs: 1
How to Submit a Nomination
- Obtain a Statement of Support from the Nominee’s Supervisor. A copy of an email expressing approval is acceptable.
- Obtain 1-3 Letters of Support (maximum 2 pages each).
- Updated last this year! Be prepared to enter a short paragraph for each of the six award criteria supporting your nominee. Text can be written by the nominator or taken from letters of support.
- Complete the online nomination form and upload the above by 12:00 pm (noon) on May 27, 2026.
Nomination Contacts
General questions can be directed to UIC HR Employee Recognition – 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 Communications and Marketing
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 Maddie Winegard, mwine@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
2025 Hall of Fame
31 outstanding employees received the Award of Merit in 2025.
2024 Hall of Fame
Click here to view the 31 outstanding employees who received the Award of Merit in 2024.
2023 Hall of Fame
32 outstanding employees received the Award of Merit in 2023.
2022 Hall of Fame
32 outstanding employees received the Award of Merit in 2023.
2003 - 2021 Hall of Fame
Click here to view AOM recipients dating back to 2003.
More information
More information on Employee Recognition at UIC.
Contact: Employee Recognition
specialprograms@uillinois.edu