Community Service Award Guidelines
Purpose: (extracted from the Executive Summary of "The Decade Plan" Community Service Planning and Implementation Committee Report)
- To recognize and reward extraordinary dedication to and excellence for volunteerism in community service and outreach.
- To increase and enhance volunteerism in community service and outreach provided by faculty and staff of the UVa Health System and heighten its internal and external visibility.
- To clearly demonstrate the UVa Health System's commitment to volunteerism, community service and outreach.
- To recognize, celebrate and develop community service and outreach leaders and mentors.
- To give focus to and publicize the UVa Health System's volunteerism in community service and outreach to the community.
Eligibility: All UVA Health System (Medical Center, School of Medicine, Health Services Foundation, School of Nursing, Health Sciences Library, & Administration) faculty and classified staff to include those in full and part-time status. (Does not include wage, temporary or contract staff).
Selection Committee: The chair of the Community Outreach Advisory Committee will annually constitute and appoint a chair for a selection subcommittee composed of not more than nine of its current members.
Nomination Process: Nomination forms and associated instructions will be distributed throughout the Health System. The completed nomination documents will be sent to the UVa Health System's Office of Community Relations, Outreach and Service to be received no later than a specified date (allowing 4 weeks for the nominations to be made). (NO exceptions will be made to the deadline requirement). Any person may nominate. (Members of the Awards Selection Subcommittee constituted at the time are ineligible for the award.)
Numbers of Awards: Two awards can be made annually, one for overall community service and one for health-related outreach. These are intended to be one-time awards to each recipient. (Consideration may be given by UVa Health System leadership to naming the awards in honor/memory of someone recognized for their leadership and commitment in these two areas of service.) At the discretion of the Awards Subcommittee, others may be recognized as "Community Builders" for their strong commitment to community service and related contributing factors. Such recognition will not preclude nomination and receipt of a primary award in future years.
Award Criteria: The award recognizes and honors an exceptional individual who makes volunteerism and community service a way of life. One who exemplifies the best in volunteering, a sense of caring and responsibility for others that connects citizens and solves community problems. The award winner will be someone who makes selfless and extraordinary contributions, in addition to those associated with their normal job duties, for the betterment of the local community and beyond. Specifically, the winner will be an individual who gives extraordinary community service and who:
- Gives freely and unselfishly of their time to community activities;
- Inspires others to serve and acts as a role model;
- Has a positive impact upon the direction and success of community projects, programs or individuals;
- Improves the lives of others.
Award Presentation & Recognition:
- To assure compliance with all applicable policies, the Human Resources office holding the intended recipients' records will administratively review the selected nominations to ensure the staff member is in good standing before the award recommendation is forwarded to senior administration and any announcements are made.
- Winners and their families, with regional political and civic leaders, will be invited to a "Very Special" recognition/ celebration award ceremony (that could be held in connection with a dinner) in a unique place (like the Rotunda). The event could be announced as the UVa Health System's Community Celebration with the CEO and Dean serving as hosts.
- The award will be a distinctive engraved candlestick (i.e. spreading light in the community) and accompanying citation.
- Consideration will be given to the UVa Health System making a donation in the name of the recipient to his/her favorite charity.
- The award concept and backgrounds of those for whom the awards are named could be highlighted at the first meeting to establish the tradition.
- Timing: The award (s) will be presented annually each fall.