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Recognition

President's Staff Awards

At California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), we believe that recognizing the efforts and achievements of our staff is a vital component of fostering a thriving and engaged workplace. Our recognition programs are designed to celebrate individuals and teams whose contributions exemplify excellence, commitment, and impact within our campus community. CSUSB honors outstanding performance and significant accomplishments through the following five staff award categories:

  • Outstanding Employee
    Celebrates an individual who consistently demonstrates excellence in their role and goes above and beyond in their daily responsibilities.
  • Special Achievement
    Recognizes a staff member for a notable accomplishment or initiative that significantly contributes to the success of the university.
  • Divisional Distinguished Service Award
    Honors exemplary service within a specific division, highlighting dedication, professionalism, and a positive impact on colleagues and operations.
  • Team Achievement
    Commends a group of employees whose collaborative efforts have resulted in exceptional outcomes or advancements on a project or initiative.
  • DEI Staff Impact Award
    Recognizes a staff member who has made meaningful contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at CSUSB.

These awards provide both visible and meaningful acknowledgment of those who help make CSUSB a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-moving institution.

Eligibility and How to Nominate

Any CSUSB employee may submit a nomination. Continue throughout this page to view eligibility requirements for each award type. 

The nomination period is Monday, June 9, 2025 - Monday, June 30, 2025

Nomination Forms can be completed as a PDF and emailed to presidentialstaffawards@csusb.edu. or dropped off at Sierra Hall 101.

Winners will be announced at Convocation scheduled for August 21, 2025.

For any questions, please contact our team at presidentialstaffawards@csusb.edu.

 

Notes and Helpful Hints:

The Nomination Review Committee consists of representatives from each division who evaluate all submissions that meet the award criteria. Nominations are assessed based on substantive and specific examples that support the various criteria. Please remember that the Nomination Review Committee may not be familiar with the individual’s or team’s achievements, so it is important to be as comprehensive as possible. The only information the Committee relies upon is what is provided on the nomination form. It is the responsibility of the nominator(s) to ensure that all participating team members who should be recognized are included in the nomination.

To view a list of prior award winners, please review the "Wall of Fame":

More Information about Each President's Award

The President's Outstanding Employee Award

Each summer, up to two staff employees are selected to receive this award based on their performance in the previous fiscal year. During the nomination period, eligible employees may be nominated for their overall job performance against the following criteria:

  • Dedication - the employee's commitment to their department, division, and University.
  • Job performance - the employee's qualitative and quantitative abilities within their role and their initative and adaptability.
  • Service - the employee's attitude when interacting and collaborating with other campus stakeholders includig students and faculty.
  • Collegiality & Civility - the employee's efforts in promoting, enhancing, and sustaining a civil and collegiate work environment.

Eligibility requirements for nominees:

  • Achieve permanent status with the University in a non-MPP state position or be a regular non-MPP employee of the University Enterprises Corporation (UEC), Associated Students, or Student Union as of 12/31 of the previous year.
  • Employee must have completed at least two years of service at CSUSB by 12/31 of the previous year for which they are being nominated.
  • UEC employees must have completed at least four years of service at CSUSB by 12/31 of the previous year for which they are being nominated.
  • Not be a former recipient of the Outstanding Employee Award category
  • Must be a staff employee; MPP employees and faculty members are not eligible

Recipients are recognized by the University President at the annual Convocation in August.

The President's Special Achievement Award

This award is designed to acknowledge a staff employee for a specific contribution to their department, division, or University. This contribution may be for a single event, project, or idea over the past year that has enhanced productivity, efficiency, or effectiveness, provided less waste or generated cost savings beyond the regular expectations of the staff member's position. 

Eligibility requirements for nominees:

  • Achieve permanent status with the University in a non-MPP state position or be a regular non-MPP employee of the University Enterprises Corporation (UEC), Associated Students, or Student Union as of 12/31 of the previous year.
  • Employee must have completed at least two years of service at CSUSB by 12/31 of the previous year for which they are being nominated.
  • UEC employees must have completed at least four years of service at CSUSB by 12/31 of the previous year for which they are being nominated.
  • Not be a former recipient of the Special Achievement Award category
  • Must be a staff employee; MPP employees and faculty members are not eligible

Recipients are announced by the University President at the annual Convocation in August.

The Divisional Distinguished Service Award

There are up to ten (10) staff employees or 'runners-up' pooled from the President's Outstanding Employee Award and the President's Special Achievement Award nominees presented with the Divisional Distinguished Service Award. Numbers of winners are commensurate with the staff population of the division. 

Eligibility requirements for nominees:

  • Achieve permanent status with the University in a non-MPP state position or be a regular non-MPP employee of the University Enterprises Corporation (UEC), Associated Students, or Student Union.
  • Employee must have completed at least two years of service at CSUSB by the end of the fiscal year for which they are being nominated.
  • UEC employees must have completed at least four years of service at CSUSB by the end of the fiscal year for which they are being nominated.
  • Distinguished Service Award winners are eligible to receive this award again after three years.
  • Must be a staff employee; MPP employees and faculty members are not eligible

Recipients are announced by the University President at the annual Convocation in August.

President's Staff Awards: Team Achievement

This award is designed to encourage, recognize and reward employees for involvement and participation in a specific project, initiative, or event by a team (department or division) that supports one or more of the following attributes:

  • University Vision
  • University Mission
  • University Core Values
  • University Strategic Plan

Eligibility requirements for nominees:

  • A minimum of five members on the team with 51% participation from staff employees. For example, a team with three administrators two faculty, and one staff member is not an eligible "team" since staff is less than 51% of the team composition.
  • The team project or initiative must not be a former recipient of the Team Achievement Award
  • Team members may staff, faculty, administrator, and student assistant
  • Financial incentive is given to staff employees only (faculty, administrator, and student assistant are not eligible for the financial incentive).

Recipients are announced by the University President at the annual Convocation in August.

President's Staff Awards: DEI Impact

The Staff DEI Impact award is designed to recognize and honor outstanding staff who demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community through programming, service, and community outreach. Criteria for selection includes inclusion-centered initatives, efforts to support recruitment and retention of diverse staff, multicultural programming, community outreach, and other factors. 

Eligibility requirements for nominees:

  • Achieve permanent status with the University in a non-MPP state position or be a regular non-MPP employee of the University Enterprise Corporation (UEC), Associated Students or Student Union as of 12/31 of the previous year.
  • Employee much have completed at least one year of service at CSUSB by 12/31 of the previous year for which they are being nominated.
  • Must be a staff employee; MPP employees and faculty members are not eligible.

Recipients are announced by the University President at the annual Convocation in August.

Acknowledgement

Probationary Recognition

Employees who complete their probationary period are granted permanent status in their classification. These employees receive a congratulatory letter from University Leadership.

Service Recognition

A recognition ceremony is held to honor non-faculty employees who have completed 5, 10, 15, 20+ years (or more, in five-year increments) of service to CSUSB. Employees who have held continuous appointments with CSUSB are eligible to be recognized. CSUSB University Enterprises Corporation, Student Union, and Associated Students, Inc. employees are also eligible. Recognition typically consists of a nominal gift from the University.

President's Retirement Recognition

Retiring staff, faculty, and administrators are recognized for their years of service and dedication at a reception sponsored by the President's Office and coordinated through the Human Resources Division. This annual event, typically held during the spring, acknowledges those employees who have elected to retire from the University. The campus community and prior retirees are also invited. Recognition typically consists of a nominal gift from the University.