• Section 1 - Purpose of Guideline
• Section 2 - Award Principles
• Section 3 - Award Categories
• Section 4 - Eligibility
• Section 5 - Nominations
• Section 6 - Selection Criteria
• Section 7 - Decision Making and Selection Process
• Section 8 - Award Outcomes and Presentation
• Section 9 - Appendix 1 – Description of Awards Categories
• Section 10 - Appendix 2 – Award Selection Committees
• Section 11 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose of Guideline

(1) The Vice-Chancellor's Awards aim to encourage and recognise exceptional performance from University staff members who demonstrate outstanding achievement in activities that are aligned with the University’s vision and strategic goals. The awards also support the University’s values of a workforce with strong performance expectations, recognition and celebration of initiative and enterprise, and staff who are recognised and appreciated for their contributions.

(2) Award recipients are formally recognised at the University’s Vice-Chancellor's Awards ceremony held mid-year. The awards ceremony is managed by the Professional and Organisational Development Services (PODS).

(3) An open call for nominations will occur early in the year and will consist of a minimum nomination period of eight weeks duration.

(4) These Guidelines provide an overview of award categories and the nomination process. Specific award criteria, nomination forms and relevant dates are available on the Vice-Chancellor's Awards webpage.

Section 2 - Award Principles

(5) The University of Wollongong is committed to workplace equity, diversity and inclusion. The University values and acknowledges the importance of its people’s diverse experiences, talents and cultures, and embraces diversity as a key component of attracting and retaining talent at UOW. Consequently, the University encourages nominations for all employees who meet the eligibility criteria for each of the awards.

(6) Award Selection Committees should have an appropriate gender balance.

(7) Nominations are not encouraged for staff where recognition such as accelerated progression, promotion and re-classification, attraction or retention allowance or any other such acknowledgement has already been made directly within the currency of the nominating period (normally within the preceding 12 months).

(8) Awards will only be given for achievements made in the twelve months preceding the closing date.

(9) There is a financial component associated with all the Vice-Chancellor's Awards.

(10) The University reserves the right not to make an award in one or more categories. If a category does not have applications of appropriate merit, the award selection committee may decide not to make an award.

Section 3 - Award Categories

(11) There are 10 Vice-Chancellor's Awards categories:

1. Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning (OCTAL) Awards;
2. Excellence in Research Awards;
3. Global Strategy Award;
4. Outstanding Service for Professional Services Staff;
5. Excellence in Community Engagement;
6. Marie Lewis Award;
7. Rosemary Cooper Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award;
8. Workplace Health and Safety Award;
9. Reconciliation Award; and
10. 25 year Service Award.

(12) See Appendix 1 for a description of each Award

Section 4 - Eligibility

(13) The general information on eligibility is as follows. Where further specific eligibility criteria apply, this will be detailed on the relevant nomination form.

1. The awards are open to members of the academic and professional services staff of the University.
2. Staff must be employed either on a permanent basis or temporary contract of at least two years and must have been employed for a period of no less than 12 months prior to the date of nomination.
3. Awards may be granted to an individual or to a team of people as determined by the relevant award selection committee. Where teams can be nominated, this will be detailed on the relevant nomination form. Team nominations should not normally exceed eight members. Teams may be within a work area or across organisational areas (e.g. schools / units /faculties / divisions).

(14) Staff who are no longer employed by the University are not eligible to receive awards but may act as nominator on specific research and community engagement awards, if stipulated on the nomination form.

Section 5 - Nominations

(15) For awards other than OCTAL Awards and Excellence in Research Awards, the nomination process is as follows:

1. Nominations are called for annually in March/April with specific dates published on the Vice-Chancellor's Awards webpage. Nominations will normally be called for two months before the closing date. Nominations must be made on the appropriate form and should include a testimonial of no more than two A4 pages.
2. A nomination is made by two nominators with one nominator normally outside of the nominee’s own unit/school and requires endorsement by the relevant Executive Dean/Executive Manager/Director of the nominee’s business unit. Self-nominations are acceptable, unless specifically prohibited on the relevant nomination form. 
3. Nominators should specifically address the award criteria, providing examples to support their claims. The nominator is responsible for coordinating the completion and submission of the nomination form to the relevant office.
4. Nominations must be received by the designated closing date. Incomplete or late nominations will not be accepted.

(16) OCTAL Awards and Excellence in Research Awards have different nomination processes; see relevant nomination form for specific details.

Section 6 - Selection Criteria

(17) The specific criteria for each award category will be set out in the relevant nomination form.

Section 7 - Decision Making and Selection Process

(18) Selection committee composition is approved by the following officers:

1. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Sustainable Futures) in the case of research awards,
2. Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life) in the case of teaching awards
3. Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President Operations in the case of all other staff awards, with input from award stakeholders.

(19) See Appendix 2 for Selection Committee Membership.

(20) Award selection committees:

1. should have appropriate gender balance;
2. may determine joint recipients (shared awards) and may make recommendations for highly commended awards to be presented with an associated financial component if applicable; and
3. will consider nominations in relation to the relevant award criteria and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor and President who approves the recommendation.

(21) All award decisions are final and there will be no appeal.

(22) Award selection committee members who have involvement in the nomination should declare their conflict of interest to the Committee prior to deliberations and discussions of the case(s), and may be excluded from discussion and/or voting if determined by the Chair.

Section 8 - Award Outcomes and Presentation

(23) The work area responsible for the administration of the award will coordinate the selection committee outcomes for the OCTAL and Research Awards. Human Resources is responsible for other awards.

(24) Award champions are responsible for ensuring all nominators have been advised of the selection committee’s approved outcomes and must provide a list of final award recipients to Human Resources no later than nine weeks prior to the ceremony date.

(25) Award recipients and their guests will be invited to attend the annual Vice-Chancellor's Awards Ceremony where they will receive their award in honour of their achievement.

(26) Where there is a financial component associated with the award, this will be transferred into the relevant bank account or nominated research account. However, special requests outside of this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In the case of a team award, normally the amount of the award will be divided equally between members of the team.

Section 9 - Appendix 1 – Description of Awards Categories

Section 10 - Appendix 2 – Award Selection Committees

Section 11 - Definitions