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Employee Recognition and Awards Program (ERAP)

Welcome to ERAP where we come together to recognize and celebrate exceptional achievements!


photo of the 2022 ERAP Program

Each spring we come together to recognize extraordinary staff for outstanding achievements. Our awards highlight excellence in multiple areas, from service and leadership to diversity and inclusion.

Awards presented during the ceremony include the Nautilus Excellence Awards, Newcomer Excellence Award, Marion Viccars Awards, Community Service Award, Gabor Award for Excellence, Employee of the Year Award, President’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion, and SGA Distinguished Staff Awards.

We hope you are excited to nominate a colleague and celebrate their accomplishments!

Celebrating Achievement: Highlights from Our Recognition Program

View memorable moments from our recent recognition program where we celebrated achievements and inspired a culture of success within the UWF community.


 

The Employee Recognition and Awards Program (ERAP) Selection Committee serves to select the current year ERAP recipients. Current awards include the Nautilus Excellence Awards, Newcomer Excellence Award, Marion Viccars Awards, Community Service Award, Gabor Award, Employee of the Year Award, President’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion, and SGA Distinguished Staff Awards.

This committee is comprised of two members from each University division, selected from the previous three years’ ERAP award recipients. In addition to the two members from each division, the committee also includes the previous year’s Employee of the Year recipient and the previous year’s Marion Viccars Award recipient(s), who serves as the committee chairperson (or co-chairs).

Note: If the previous year’s Marion Viccars Award recipients are unable to serve, the University Provost will designate an individual to serve as the committee chairperson.

Quick-glance Commitments

Quick-glance Commitments

Human Resources

Selection Committee Chairperson(s)

Selection Committee Members

ERAP Website

Virtual Meeting Selection Committee Nominations Review

Selection Committee Virtual Meeting Attendance

ERAP Announcements

In-Person Meeting Selection Committee Nominations Discussion

Selection Committee In-Person Meeting Attendance

ERAP Selection Committee Process and Procedure Supervision

Awardees Selection and Additional Discussion if Scoring Ties

Nominations Review

ERAP Selection Committee Virtual and In-Person Meetings Coordination

Cumulative ERAP Scoring Spreadsheet

Nominations Scoring

ERAP Staff Senate Notifications

HR Notification of Award Winners and Provision of Official Cumulative Scoring Spreadsheet

Member’s ERAP Scoring Spreadsheets

ERAP Award Recipient Notifications

 

 

Division Selection of Committee Members

The HR employee overseeing ERAP (hereafter referred to as “HR”) prepares and shares the spreadsheets each fall with the University President and Division Vice Presidents which include the following:

  • Award Calculation Summary detailing the number of eligible awards per division.
  • Award Eligibility Reports (Marion Viccars, Nautilus (Non-OPS and OPS), Newcomer Excellence, Community Service, and Gabor).
  • Previous 3-Year Award Recipient List for Selection Committee election
  • Current Year Selection Committee form for completion

The Divisions review the "Previous 3-Year Award Recipient List" for eligible committee members, select members who will represent their division and serve for the current year, confirm with the selected individuals that they are willing and able to serve, and provide the committee member names to HR by the designated deadline.

Selection Committee Notification

Once all committee members are selected by the Divisions, HR prepares and delivers an email notification to all committee members. This email includes:

  • Nomination confirmation
  • Identification of the Committee Chairperson(s)
  • Timeline for review and selection
  • Selection Committee meeting venue and dates
  • Confirmation that all committee members have access to an electronic tablet or computer to attend the virtual meeting and view digital nomination forms

Selection Committee Guidelines

  • HR will ensure that the Selection Committee abides by the selection committee process.
  • The previous year’s Marion Viccars Award winner(s) will serve as the Committee Chairperson or Co-Chairperson(s).
  • HR will send an email communication to the committee members and ask each to confirm they understand, “being selected to serve on the committee is an honor and you agree to abide by the full committee process to maintain the dignity of the ERAP program.”.
  • The Selection Committee process:
    • The committee will meet two times during the selection process. The first meeting will be conducted virtually via Zoom. HR will explain the selection process, the selection timeline, the selection digital nominations, the selection scoring resources, and the scoring rubrics. This Zoom meeting will be recorded for reference.
    • HR will share the digital nominations, the ERAP Rubric Spreadsheet, and the ERAP Scoring Spreadsheet with all committee members.
    • Each committee member will review all nomination forms for each nomination category and agree not to discuss the nominations with anyone outside of the committee to ensure confidentiality of the nominations and subsequent award recipients.
    • Each committee member will use the rubric from their ERAP Rubric Spreadsheet for initial review of the nominees. This rubric may not be edited.
    • Each committee member will use their ERAP Scoring Spreadsheet to enter their nominee scores.
    • Once the initial review is complete and each committee member has tentatively scored the nominees, the selection committee will meet in-person. HR will be present at this meeting to ensure the selection process is followed. The Committee Chairperson(s) will facilitate the meeting. It is the responsibility of the Committee Chairperson to ensure that all committee members have an opportunity to engage in dialogue and that all views are considered. If an award tie exists, open discussion will determine the award recipient.
    • The committee will select the Employee of the Year from the Nautilus Excellence Award highest-scored nominee and ensure that the individual meets the “5 Years of Service” requirement. If not, the committee will select the next individual in score order, until the requirement is met.
    • The committee is authorized to award one discretionary Nautilus Excellence Award to any nominee from any division.
    • The Committee Chairperson will enter each committee members’ individual scores on the ERAP Scoring Spreadsheet used for overall calculation purposes and ensure that each entry is visible during the meeting by utilizing a virtual display/projection.
    • Once all calculations are complete, the Committee Chairperson will transfer the winner names to a Word document, or Google Doc, and deliver the form along with the official cumulative ERAP Scoring Spreadsheet to HR.

Award Recipient Notifications

When the selection process is complete, HR will communicate the award recipient selections confidentially to Staff Senate. In addition, HR will communicate privately with each award recipient’s supervisor to verify the award recipient’s ceremony attendance and to encourage team attendance.

 


All 2025 Award Eligibility Reports are as of October 7, 2024

Newcomer Excellence Award

The Newcomer Excellence Award celebrates a rising star who has quickly made a significant impact at UWF. This award recognizes a new employee who demonstrates adaptability, initiative, and a strong commitment to the university community, showcasing exceptional promise for future growth and leadership. The recipient embodies UWF’s values, contributing to a positive and dynamic campus environment.

The University Work Force recipient receives a $1000 (gross) cash award and an Argo trophy.

Requirements

  • University Work Force employees must have worked at UWF for one year as of March 1, 2025, but not more than three years by that same date, to be eligible for the Newcomer Excellence Award.
  • OPS Staff are ineligible.
  • Employees classified as Director, Faculty, or Faculty Administrator are ineligible for the award.

Nautilus Excellence Awards

The Nautilus Excellence Award recognizes employees for substantial contributions and outstanding performance and professionalism impacting operations, service excellence, inter-departmental effectiveness and community involvement. Each University Work Force award recipient receives a $2000 (gross) cash award and an Argo trophy. Each OPS award recipient receives a $500 (gross) cash award and an Argo trophy. Please contact HR for Nautilus Excellence Award OPS staff eligibility.

Requirements

  • University Work Force employees must have worked at UWF for three years as of March 1, 2025, to be eligible for the Nautilus Excellence Award.
  • OPS Staff employees must have worked at UWF for six months as of March 1, 2025, to be eligible for the Nautilus Excellence Award.
  • Employees classified as Director and above are not eligible
  • Previous award winners are not eligible for the three years following the year they win the award (e.g., If an employee wins in 2020, they would not be eligible again until 2024.).

2025 Nautilus Excellence Award
Calculations Summary

2025 Nautilus Excellence Awards Calculations Summary

Division

Eligible Employees

Divisor

Nautilus Awards

Academic Affairs

191

÷ 18.68

10

Academic Engagement and Student Affairs

42

÷ 18.68

2

Finance and Administration

114

÷ 18.68

6

President’s

37

÷ 18.68

2

University Advancement

27

÷ 18.68

2

Total Eligible Employees

411

 

Total Awards Available
22

  • There are 22 available awards for 2025.
    • Example Calculation – 411 total eligible employees divided by 22 awards = 18.68
    • Academic Affairs - 191 divided by 18.68 equals 10.22 and when rounded equals 10
    • Academic Affairs (191/411= 46.47% of the eligible population) X 22 awards = 10.22 (10 Awards)

Marion Viccars Award

The Marion Viccars Award was established by former UWF President James Robinson to recognize superior service of university employees. Marion Viccars began working at the new University of West Florida’s John C. Pace Library in 1967. She was an enthusiastic participant in the academic life of the university, an energetic promoter of West Florida’s historical preservation activities and a warm and cordial counselor to students and scholars everywhere.

The Marion Viccars Award recognizes two employees at the Director level and above or a Faculty Administrative (Dean, Associate and Assistant Dean, or Chairperson) for substantial contributions, outstanding performance and professionalism impacting operations, service excellence, inter-departmental effectiveness and community involvement. Each award recipient receives a $2000 (gross) cash award and an Argo trophy.

Requirements

  • Employees must have worked at UWF for three consecutive years as of March 1, 2025 to be eligible for the Marion Viccars Award.
  • This award is for employees at the Director level and above and Faculty Administrators (including Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, and Chairperson).

Gabor Award for Excellence

The Gabor Award for Excellence was established at the behest of the Gabor Insurance Company to reward outstanding university employees. This award is presented to one staff employee and one faculty employee each year as funding permits.

The Gabor Award for Excellence recognizes employees for substantial contributions and outstanding performance and professionalism impacting operations, service excellence, inter-departmental effectiveness and community involvement. Each award recipient receives a $500 (gross) cash award and a certificate.

Requirements

  • Employees must have worked at UWF for three years as of March 1, 2025, to be eligible for the Gabor Award.

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award recognizes an employee for substantial contribution and outstanding performance and professionalism in the community. The award recipient receives a $500 (gross) cash award and an Argo trophy.

Requirements

  • Employees must have worked at UWF for three years as of March 1, 2025, to be eligible for the Community Service Award.

 

Award Submission Guidelines 

  • All award applications must be submitted on the official nomination forms and include two, signed letters of recommendation on business letterhead. The nominator may not complete one of the two required letters of recommendation.
  • Previous awardees are not eligible to win the same award for three (3) years. (e.g., If an employee wins in 2020, they would not be eligible again until 2024).
  • Nominations may be self-appointed or be submitted by others (peers, supervisors, colleagues from other divisions, etc.). If the nomination is a self-nomination, then the two letters of recommendation must be from different sources other than the nominee.
  • The ERAP Selection Committee members may not submit nominations or letters of recommendation.
  • Nominations received after 5 p.m. on the deadline date of Friday, January 24, 2025, will be declared ineligible.

If you need assistance completing the nomination form, please contact Human Resources at 850.474.2694.

Our Employee Recognition and Awards Ceremony occurs each spring. However, recognition happens each and every day at UWF! 

Please visit Awardco to celebrate other recognitions! Please note: Your login may be required for access.

Please visit the Division of University Advancement’s employee recognitions page to celebrate outstanding division employees. View their Division Awards of Distinction and On-The Spot Recognitions programs.

Retirement Awards

The University’s Employee Recognition Program provides retiring employees with a choice of retirement mementos. Please make your selection by completing the retirement selection form within six (6) weeks (if possible) of your retirement date so that your selected retirement award may be ordered. If you have any questions about the Retirement Awards Program, please contact Human Resources at 850-474-2694.

Service Awards

Employees who have achieved increments of five (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.) continuous years of service with the University of West Florida are eligible to receive an Employee Service Award.

You may pick up your service award in Human Resources after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the Employee Recognition & Awards Program (ERAP).*

*Faculty Service Awards may be presented later in the year at the Fall Faculty Forum.