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Employee Engagement

Career Milestone Awards

2023 Career Milestone Awards: Recipient List | Recipient Video | Ceremony Livestream | Ceremony Photos
2024 Career Milestone Awards (Friday, January 31, 2025: 10am, University Center Ballroom): Recipient List

The Career Milestone Awards Program is designed to recognize employees for their years of service to the University of Memphis. Staff employees are eligible for recognition beginning with their fifth year of service and faculty beginning with their tenth year of service. Thereafter, recognition occurs  in five (5) year increments. Each year, the Department of Human Resources sponsors the Career Milestone Awards Ceremony for all faculty & staff employees where they are recognized for reaching a career milestone in appreciation of their years of service to the UofM. This year we have partnered with the First Horizon Foundation who is generously sponsoring a major portion of the Career Milestone Awards Program.

Excellence Awards

7th Annual Excellence Awards (November 6, 2024): Ceremony Livestream Recording

Presidential Excellence Award
The Presidential Award is the highest award given at the University for staff employees.  Honorees are recognized for their lasting impact made at the University while maintaining exemplary performance. Criteria for this award may include one or several of the following. 

  • Support: Demonstrates above and beyond commitment to the support of students, faculty and staff.
  • Stewardship: Demonstrates a high level of care and responsibility for the well-being of the University and its resources for the benefit of our students, faculty and staff.
  • Innovation:  Possesses leadership abilities, embraces creative initiatives, resulting in a positive impact to the University and the surrounding community.
  • Teamwork:  Works as a partnership builder while nurturing an environment of camaraderie and collaboration.

The recipient of this award will be selected by the President from the nominations received from the campus community.

First Horizon Excellence Awards (Generously Sponsored by First Horizon Foundation)
The First Horizon Excellence Awards recognizes staff employees from each University Division for an assortment of exceptional efforts and contributions to the University of Memphis. Primarily, this award honors staff employees who display one or more of the following:

  • Consistently performs job responsibilities at a level above and beyond normal expectations.
  • Exhibits an exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication, and cooperation among colleagues and university constituents.
  • Exhibits a high degree of personal ethics and integrity.
  • Has clearly earned the respect of colleagues.
  • Exceptional contributions to their department’s level of service satisfaction. 
  • Significant contributions to the efficiency of an operation or unit. 
  • Significant contribution to student success, directly or indirectly.

The recipient of each Division award will be selected by the respective University Leader of each Division from the nominations received from the campus community.

TIAA Community Service Outreach Excellence Award (Sponsored by TIAA)
This award recognizes and honors exceptional staff individuals who make volunteerism and community service a way of life and will be given to the  recipient who exemplifies service excellence in volunteering and exhibits a sense of caring and responsibility for others.  The recipient will also be someone who makes selfless and extraordinary contributions, in addition to those associated with their normal job duties for the betterment of the University, local community and beyond. Listed below are some of the recognition criteria to consider:

  • Gives freely and unselfishly of their time to community activities.
  • Inspires others to serve and act as a role model.
  • Has a positive impact on building partnerships between the University, local community projects and programs.
  • Improves the lives of others.

The recipient of this award will be selected by a committee of peers from the nominations received from the campus community.

Recipients and nominees must meet all of the following eligibility criteria: 

  • Continuously employed by the UofM in a regular position for a minimum of two (2) years 
  • No have documented performance deficiencies on file within the past two (2) years
  • Not been a previous recipient of an Excellence Award during the past two (2) years

There are monetary awards tied to each of the Excellence Awards categories mentioned above.

Please click here to view all previous Excellence Award recipients.

Harriet R. Montgomery Service Excellence Award

The Harriet R. Montgomery Service Excellence Award was established through the University of Memphis Foundation with contributions provided by the generosity of the University community upon Harriet R. Montgomery's retirement in recognition for her many years of service to the University of Memphis. This award recognizes University staff members who consistently demonstrate a commitment to the highest levels of customer service excellence. Each month, the University community has an opportunity to nominate colleagues from a specific division/area of the University.  The nomination form, which includes a statement of support, must be submitted to the Department of Human Resources, Employee Relations & Engagement via the online portal by the established deadline.

NOMINATION FORM

Award Eligibility and Selection:

The employee (nominee):

  • Must have been employed by the University for a minimum of one (1) year in a staff regular position.
  • Consistently maintains a professional and friendly attitude with both internal & external customers.
  • Demonstrates that he/she takes time to listen and understand the customers' needs.
  • Gives the customer the information he/she needs, not just what the customer asks.
  • Is thorough and follows-up with customers in a timely manner.
  • May be eligible for this award once every five (5) years.

The monthly recipient will be selected by a committee of peers based on the merits specified on the nomination. Recipients will be awarded with a certificate, a $100 monetary award, and one month of all-access parking on campus.

Please click here to view recipients from this and previous years.

Tiger Spotlight

In support of our continuous efforts to embrace a culture of recognition awareness, this online certificate affords all fellow Tigers the opportunity to "spot" outstanding service throughout the University. Employees may be "spotted" when any of the following characteristics are observed or demonstrated:

  • Consistently making a significant and positive impact within their department, by fostering the mission and goals of the University
  • Excellence in overall work performance
  • Making a personal effort to "go the extra step"
  • Consistent commitment in providing expert service to internal and external customers
  • Serving as a role model through positive interactions with customers

To "Spot" a U of M employee today, visit this link!

 

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2023

Employee Engagement is excited to host this annual event that allows children and teens to learn about the work done by their parents and others at the University of Memphis.

For additional information on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, contact the Department of Human Resources at 901.678.3573 or via e-mail at engagement@memphis.edu.

 

MPLOY

The University of Memphis is proud to partner with the City of Memphis by participating in the city's MPLOY program. For more information about MPLOY, visit this link.