Employee Service Award Program

The University of Akron recognizes all employees who have reached the service milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40+ years of service.  Each year the campus community is invited to attend a service award ceremony and reception honoring the recipients.  All service award recipients are currently recognized with certificates and small gifts based on milestone years.    

2013 Annual Service Awards Program

Congratulations to all emloyees who will reach a service milestone in 2013!  This year's employee service award ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at the Quaker Square Grand Station Hall from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.  The ceremony is open to the campus community.    

2013 Program Booklet

If you would like to see names of the employees who are reaching service year milestones this year, review the online program booklet.   

2013 Photos of the Event

Photos will be posted after the completion of the event.

Eligibility and Determination

• The job status of an employee's hire date must reflect faculty, contract professional or staff employee for service year to be counted.
• An employee's Peoplesoft record(s) must be designated as "active status" and based on all years of "paid" employment to be included in any given year's service calculations.
• All "active status" full-time, part-time, regular, and temporary employees with five or more years of service are eligible for a service award.
• For purposes of the annual service award program only:
  • Determination of an employee's inclusion in a specific award year is based on total years of service at The University of Akron.  Total years of service is defined as service that is either continuous or a combination of years due to a break in service.
  • Service eligibility is computed on a calendar year basis.
  • An employee who works thirty-two weeks within a given year will receive credit for one (1) year of service. Employees who work less than thirty-two weeks will receive partial credit for the service year.  Percentage of credit received will be determined by the number of weeks worked divided by fifty-two weeks.
• Service earned at other state agencies/institutions is not included when calculating award eligibility.
• Service accumulated from a graduate assistantship, as a student assistant, or as a temporary employee hired through an external agency is not included when calculating award eligibility.
• Any employee who terminates from the University prior to the pre-determined service award ceremony date is not eligible to receive a service award.
• Current employees who previously retired from the University are not eligible to receive a service award.

The Process

Prior to the award ceremony, Human Resources...  

• Will forward to the appropriate Vice President, Dean and Director a list of employees who will reach their service milestone by year end.
• Will mail a personal letter to all award recipients expressing the University's appreciation for the employee's loyalty and commitment and inviting them to the award ceremony.
• Will provide instructions to award recipients regarding gifts.
• Will notify campus of the upcoming event.
• Will send reminders to award recipients, ceremony participants, and all other UA employees via UA's Email Digest and other appropriate communication avenues.

Day of the award ceremony...  

• Service award recipients with 5, 10, and 15 years of service will be recognized as a group during the ceremony.
• Service award recipients with 20 or more years of service will be presented with certificates by their respective Vice President, Dean or designee.  Each recipient will also have his/her picture taken with the President of the University.

After the award Ceremony...  

• Certificates for 5, 10, and 15 year recipients will be delivered to the Vice Presidents or Deans for further distribution.
• Certificates will also be forwarded to the respective Vice President or Dean for any 20+ year award recipients who are unable to attend the ceremony.

Gift Selection

• Gift selections will be determined on an annual basis.  The range of gift selections and gift value will be based on the current fiscal year's budget allocations as approved by senior administration during the annual budget process.

Questions?

We never want to intentionally exclude anyone from getting acknowledged for the years of service the individual has given to the University.  Unfortunately, mistakes do happen.  If you think you have enough years of service to be included in this year's service awards but have not received an invitation letter, please contact us via email at roper@uakron.edu. Be sure to include your Employee ID and the UA hire date(s) of employment that you want to have verified.