Exceptional Service Awards

As standard in the field of higher education, service to the university is an important element of a functional and healthy campus, and this work should be recognized in the case of all university employees.

Service includes a wide range of activity that is not directly compensated through alternate workload assignment (AWA) or dual compensation arrangements. Faculty at KU provide service through acts including, but not limited to:

• Active participation in program, department, college, and university and system committees;
• APSCUF activity contributing to governance of the university and system;
• Providing training and/or mentoring to colleagues in effective pedagogy;
• Participation in professional and/or community-based organizations related to their discipline, including holding offices in those organizations;
• Giving lectures or providing consultations outside of their teaching role;
• Participating in accreditation work for a program, department, or the university;
• Developing or creating programming for the benefit of the University community;
• Advising student clubs and organizations;
• Participation in activities contributing to student recruitment and retention;
• Participation in student-run activities; and
• Participation in activities that support a broad range of diversity initiatives.

While all KU faculty participate in service at some level, there are members of the KU faculty who go above and beyond expectations in service of the institution. The Exceptional Service Award for Faculty is meant to recognize this work.

In each academic year, a call will be circulated in the fall semester for nominations for the Exceptional Service Award for Faculty. Any University employee or student may make a recommendation for the award. Self-nominations and nominations by immediate family are not accepted. Awardees are not eligible to receive a subsequent award for a period of five years.

Recommendations must include the name of the nominator, the name and position of the nominee, the KU relationship that the nominator has with the individual being recommended (e.g. student of, department colleague with, served together on the Senate, etc.), and a narrative description of the nominated faculty member’s relevant exceptional service.

A committee composed of the University Senate President (committee chair), a provost designee, and three faculty members of University Senate (selected by the senate) will review all nominations and make an honoree recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision. Honorees will receive $1250 and may elect to take these funds as a taxable cash payment or in a professional development account. Honorees will also be celebrated at Faculty and Staff Convocation each year.

As standard in the field of higher education, service to the university is an important element of a functional and healthy campus, and this work should be recognized in the case of all university employees.

Service includes a wide range of activity that is not directly compensated through alternate workload assignment (AWA) or dual compensation arrangements. Staff at KU provide service through acts including, but not limited to:

• Active participation in program, department, college, and university and system committees; 
• Union activity contributing to governance of the university and system;
• Providing training and/or mentoring to colleagues in best practices; 
• Participation in professional and/or community-based organizations related to their discipline, including holding offices in those organizations; 
• Giving lectures or providing consultations outside of their formal role;
• Participating in accreditation work for a program, department, or the university;
• Developing or creating programming for the benefit of the University community;
• Advising student clubs and organizations; 
• Participation in activities contributing to student recruitment and retention; 
• Participation in student-run activities; and 
• Participation in activities that support diversity initiatives. 

Staff often volunteer for service and there are members of the KU community who go above and beyond expectations in service of the institution. The Exceptional Service Award for Staff is meant to recognize this work. 

In each academic year, a call will be circulated in the fall semester for nominations for the Exceptional Service Award for Staff. Any university employee or student may make a recommendation for the award. Self-nominations and nominations by immediate family are not accepted. Awardees shall not be eligible to receive a subsequent award for five years.

Recommendations must include the name of the nominator, the name and position of the nominee, the KU relationship that the nominator has with the individual being recommended (e.g. student of, department colleague with, served together on the Senate, etc.), and a narrative description of the nominated staff member’s relevant exceptional service. 

A committee composed of the University Senate President, the HR Director or designee (committee chair), and three staff members of University Senate (selected by the senate) will review all nominations and will make an honoree recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

Honorees will receive $1,250 and may elect to take these funds as a taxable cash payment or in a professional development account. Honorees will also be celebrated at Faculty and Staff Convocation each year.

At Kutztown, as at other campuses across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, members of the faculty engage in exceptional levels of service in support of values highlighted in PASSHE’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Mission. This service supports historically underrepresented and at-risk members of the University community, including:

• Racial and ethnic minority groups,
• Religious minority groups,
• Women,
• Veterans,
• Members of the LGBTQIA community, and
• Individuals with disabilities.

Unassigned service (that is, service for which AWA or other compensation is not provided) to at-risk community members may include such activities as:

• Curricular work intended to improve student access and success,
• Peer training and mentoring,
• Assisting with language acquisition and cultural understanding,
• Serving on multiple diversity committees,
• Mentoring and similar student support,
• Advising of student groups and clubs serving underrepresented students,
• Support of University recruitment and outreach efforts,
• Development of study abroad experiences, and
• Assisting and mentoring international students studying at the university.

In recognition of this work, Kutztown University has established the KU Exceptional Service Award for Diversity. These awards are given in each academic year to one faculty member of the university. All faculty members are eligible for this award.

In each academic year, a call will be circulated in the fall semester for nominations. Any University employee or student may make a recommendation for the award. Self-nominations and nominations of immediate family are not accepted. Awardees are not eligible to receive a subsequent award for a period of five years.

Recommendations must include the name of the nominator, the name and position of the nominee, the KU relationship that the nominator has with the individual being recommended (e.g. student of, department colleague with, served together on the Senate, etc.), and a narrative description of the nominated faculty member’s relevant exceptional service.

A committee composed of the Chief Diversity Officer (chair), the Chair of the Commission on Human Diversity Committee, and one representative from each college (appointed by the dean) will review all nominations and make an honoree recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

Honorees will receive $1250 and may elect to take these funds as a taxable cash payment, in a professional development account, or as a workload equivalent for the subsequent semester or summer. Honorees will also be celebrated at the annual Diversity Conference or a similar event.