President’s Awards for Excellence Policy

Authority: President
Date Enacted or Revised: Enacted November 2019; Revised May 2021; November 2021; February 28, 2023

Purpose

McNeese State University fully supports and recognizes the importance of acknowledging employees for commitment to the University’s vision, mission, statement of purpose, and values and for demonstrated excellence in work-related accomplishments and service to the University and community. The purpose of this policy is to reward employees with recognition and monetary awards.

Policy

Awards

  1. The President’s Awards for Excellence will be presented annually as follows:
    1. Faculty Awards – up to two awards at $3,000 each
    2. Unclassified Staff Awards – up to two awards at $1,000 each
    3. Classified Staff Awards – up to two awards at $1,000 each
  2. Award recipients will receive a plaque and a one-time salary supplement, less applicable deductions.
  3. Award amounts cannot exceed 10% of the recipient’s base salary within the fiscal year.
  4. If the monetary awards are sponsored by a McNeese Foundation donor, the donor’s name will be included in press releases.

Basic Criteria

  1. The candidate must have a minimum of one year of full-time service at McNeese.
  2. The candidate’s most recent performance evaluation must be satisfactory.
    1. In the most recent faculty Annual Performance Review rating period, a faculty candidate must have received an overall performance level rating of ‘Satisfactory’, ‘Average’, or higher.
    2. In the most recent administrative and unclassified staff Annual Performance Review rating period, an unclassified staff candidate must have received an overall rating of 3.00 (Fully Meets Standards) or higher.
    3. In the most recent Performance Evaluation System (PES) rating period, a classified staff candidate must have received an overall rating of ‘Successful’ or ‘Exceptional’.
  3. There is no restriction on the rank or type of employment of the candidate; however, the following positions are ineligible for consideration: vice president, associate vice president, assistant vice president, director of athletics, chief diversity officer, chief information officer, dean, executive director, library director, Graduate School director, and head coach.
  4. An employee may not receive an award in two consecutive years.

Criteria for Nominations

  1. The candidate may be self-nominated or nominated by a current or former full-time McNeese employee.
  2. The candidate must demonstrate commitment to the University’s vision, mission, statement of purpose, and values and demonstrate excellence in work-related accomplishments and service to the University and community.
    1. Faculty. Examples of demonstrated excellence for faculty may include, but are not limited to, the following while at McNeese:
      1. Creative/Artistic Activity.
        1. The prestige of galleries sponsoring exhibits
        2. The prestige of journals and publishers producing works
        3. Critical acclaim for efforts
        4. The prestige of organizations sponsoring performances
        5. Awards and honors received from professional societies
      2. Research.
        1. Evidence of commitment to a high level of research activity
        2. Evidence of quality scholarship in recognized publications
        3. Recognition in the profession as evidenced by activities, honors, placement
        4. The prestige of publishers of the candidate’s books and journals
        5. Success in research proposals and grant activities
      3. Service.
        1. Evidence of high levels of sustained commitment to campus service, such as University committee leadership, participation in student recruiting and retention efforts, student organization sponsorship, mentorship, and participation in and the organization of campus seminars and workshops
        2. Evidence of high levels of sustained commitment to the profession and/or community
        3. Charitable service to the community
        4. Offices held in, or relevant service to, professional associations or civic/community organizations
      4. Teaching.
        1. Evidence of high standards of teaching excellence
        2. Evidence of innovative teaching techniques
        3. Positive reputation in the eyes of former students, colleagues, and alumni
        4. Performance of current or former students in professional/graduate school or their careers
        5. Evidence of excellence in course and assignment design
        6. Presentations on teaching to colleagues
        7. Evidence of quality academic advising
        8. Participation in professional development in the area of pedagogy
    2. Staff. Examples of demonstrated excellence for staff may include, but are not limited to, the following while at McNeese:
      1. Evidence of high degree of professionalism and customer service
      2. Evidence of high levels of initiative and pride in work
      3. Evidence of high levels of sustained commitment to campus service, such as University committee leadership or service, participation in student recruiting and retention efforts, student organization sponsorship, mentorship, and participation in and the organization of campus seminars and workshop
      4. Offices held in, or relevant service to, professional associations or civic/community organizations

Nomination Packets

  1. The nomination packet is limited to no more than 15 pages and should include the following in this order:
    1. University nomination form (1 page)
    2. Current curriculum vitae/resume of the candidate
    3. If self-nominated:
      • A statement explaining how the candidate demonstrates excellence and supports the University’s vision, mission, statement of purpose, and values (no more than 3 pages)
      • Three letters of recommendation
    4. If not self-nominated:
      • Letter of recommendation written by nominator and two additional letters of recommendation
    5. Optional:  Other relevant items that support the nomination (no more than 5 pages)
  2. The nomination packet must be saved as a single PDF document and emailed to awards@mcneese.edu by the deadline specified in the schedule.

Selection Process

  1. The president will appoint the 9-member ad hoc committee as follows:
    1. Six members from the previous year’s award recipients (two faculty, two unclassified staff, and two classified staff members);
    2. One faculty member recommended by the provost and vice president for academic affairs;
    3. One classified staff member recommended by the vice president for business affairs;
    4. One unclassified staff member recommended by the executive vice president; and
    5. One of the nine members will be selected by the president to serve as the chair.
  2. If a committee member is unable to serve or is nominated for an award, the president will select an alternate member from the previous years’ award recipients or from recommendations made by the provost and vice president for academic affairs, the vice president for business affairs, and/or the executive vice president.
  3. A staff member, recommended by the provost, will serve as the recording secretary, manage committee records and correspondence, and verify eligibility of candidates with the offices of Human Resources and Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management.
  4. As nomination packets are received by the committee, email correspondence will be sent to those who submitted nomination packets, confirming receipt of the submissions.
  5. Nominations will be vetted through two rounds of review.
    1. During Round 1, subcommittees will be formed from the President’s Awards Selection Committee to vet nominations for Round 2 consideration.
      1. All faculty on the selection committee will form a subcommittee to vet faculty nominations and make recommendations to the selection committee for Round 2 consideration.
      2. All unclassified staff on the selection committee will form a subcommittee to vet unclassified staff nominations and make recommendations to the selection committee for Round 2 consideration.
      3. All classified staff on the selection committee will form a subcommittee to vet classified staff nominations and make recommendations to the selection committee for Round 2 consideration.
      4. A University-provided scoring rubric will be used by each subcommittee during the Round 1 vetting process.
    2. During Round 2, the President’s Awards Selection Committee will review recommendations from each subcommittee and will select up to two faculty recipients, two unclassified staff recipients, and two classified staff recipients to recommend to the president.
  6. The chair will forward the committee’s recommendations to the president.
  7. At the next fall semester’s general faculty and staff meeting, award recipients will be announced and presented with plaques.
  8. After the award recipients are announced:
    1. Supplemental pay requests for faculty and unclassified staff will be submitted to the ULS board for approval. Once approval is received, the McNeese Payroll Office will process the supplemental pay requests.
    2. The director of human resources and student employment will be notified of classified staff recipients, and the Payroll Office will process the additional pay requests.

Schedule

  • Before or by March 1: Nominations are solicited.
  • April 1: Final day to submit nomination packets to awards@mcneese.edu.
  • May 15:  President’s Awards Selection Committee concludes work and submits award recipient recommendations to president.

If University offices are closed on any of the above dates, the deadline will be the next date that offices are open.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the University Policies webpage.

Related Documents
President’s Awards – Nomination Form