Distinguished Staff Awards

2020 Nominations are Now Open

Celebrating Excellence

The Distinguished Staff Awards program recognizes and supports the achievements of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center non-faculty benefits-eligible employees.

There are five levels of Distinguished Staff Awards

Quality Staff Award
Quality Supervisor Award
Quality Team Award
President's Award of Excellence
Chancellor's Award of Excellence

More information about each award can be found on the Award Descriptions page.

The Distinguished Staff Awards are made in accordance with each of the eligibility criteria listed below.

The nominee(s) must:

Be continuously employed as a full-time or part-time, benefits-eligible staff member as required by award criteria
Not received a disciplinary action within the previous twelve months
Completed all required trainings
Not have been the recipient of a Distinguished Staff Award in the past five years (the Quality Service Award will be used as a basis of eligibility until a five year history has been established for the Distinguished Staff Awards)

Note: The nomination may include an individual or team, however, all members of a team must meet eligibility criteria as stated above.

The nomination form is the only source of information about the nominee that the selection committee uses in the selection process. The members evaluate to what degree the nominee meets the standards of the award criteria. Quantity of nominations received is not a factor. The nomination should describe how the nominee has demonstrated the values, behaviors, or qualities for the specific award. Supplemental information (e.g., letter of reference) included with the nomination will not be submitted to the selection committee.

The key to a well-written nomination is providing the selection committee with information illustrating how the individual or team have exemplified our values-based culture. Ensure the nominee's contributions match the specific award criteria (Value).

Here are some additional tips:

Keep it brief. Write short sentences that are concise and give specific detail.
Answer the "what" and "how."
- WHAT did the nominee do?
  - Describe instances when the team member portrayed a value
  - Tell a story about a remarkable moment of values
HOW did the nominee do it?
- Initiative and/or leadership
- Teamwork
- Creativity and/or innovation
- Behaviors and/or attitudes
WHAT were the results and impacts?
- What did the nominee accomplish using their values?
- Are there specific benefits derived from those efforts?
Be clear and specific. Be specific about what the nominee did and how that portrays the values of TTUHSC. It is not the quantity of the nomination, it's the quality!
Say it like it is. Don't worry about using fancy words. Feel free to use bullet lists when appropriate. Be sure to explain the details in such a way that the selection committee will understand. Spell out and define and unfamiliar acronyms.
Use concrete examples. Anecdotes or quotations from colleagues or patrons will help strengthen your nomination. The selection committee is relying on your words and examples to "see" your nominee's attributes and values.
Answer the questions. Address all parts of the question completely to assure the selection committee has all the information it needs to know about your nominee.
Communicate sincerity and personal commitment. Show that you personally value the contributions of your nominee and how their portrayal of the TTUHSC values impact you or those around you. Speak from the heart.
Review your nomination. Verify the accuracy of all information in the nomination.
Ask questions. If you are unclear about the award criteria, ask for clarification.

More Information

TTUHSC Values and Behaviors

Verification of employment, performance, and training criteria will be completed. Nominations meeting the eligibility requirements stated above are sent forward to the supervisor and senior leadership for approval.

A selection committee uses a weighted scoring method to evaluate the items. The selection committee prepares a list of recommended awardees to submit to the Chancellor and university President for his or her review and final approval.