Procedure overview
1 Purpose
To describe the processes to implement Employee recognition and reward initiatives at the University.
2 Scope
This procedure applies to all Employees.
3 Procedure Overview
This procedure outlines the processes to implement:
- Employee excellence awards
- recognition of service
- other initiatives.
4 Procedures
The University will use both formal and informal approaches to recognise and reward exceptional Employee service, performance, and achievement.
4.1 Employee excellence awards
The University may give Employee excellence awards each calendar year to recognise and reward exceptional performance, achievement, and impact by an individual or team.
All Employees are eligible to apply for any excellence award.
Each award normally consists of a financial grant and a certificate. The financial grants must be used in full within 12 months of receipt and can only be used for professional development and associated expenditure.
Applications must be made on the relevant application form and submitted by the advertised due date.
Assessment will be undertaken by an assessment panel (with an appropriate gender mix) and will examine the merit of each application against criteria. The panel will consider achievement relative to opportunity and unconscious bias during the assessment process.
The University is not obliged to present any excellence award or medal in any given year if there are no applications of sufficient merit.
4.1.1 Available awards
The category, responsible officer, and available awards include:
- Learning and teaching category - Provost
- Excellence Award for STEMM Disciplines Learning and Teaching
- Excellence Award for HASS Disciplines Learning and Teaching
- Excellence Award for University Learning and Teaching
- Excellence Award for University Educational Leadership
- Research category - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
- Excellence Award for Research
- Ronel Erwee Memorial Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research Supervision
- Excellence Award for Early Career Research
- Excellence Award for Women in STEMM
- Excellence Award for Service to Research
- People, culture, and values category - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise Services)
- Excellence Award for Diversity and Inclusion
- Excellence Award for Leadership
- Excellence Award for Innovation and Change
- Excellence Award for Living the UniSQ Values
- Community engagement and service category - Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement)
- Excellence Award for Community Engagement and Service.
The Vice-Chancellor may also award a University Medal for Academic Excellence, Research Excellence, and/or Professional Excellence. Each medal normally consists of a commemorative University medal and a certificate.
4.1.2 Award management
Each award has a responsible officer at the Provost, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, or Pro Vice-Chancellor level (see section 4.1.1). The responsible officer (or nominee):
- determines relevant Employee excellence awards;
- convenes the assessment panel and manages the assessment process;
- provides winner recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor; and
- administers expenditure of financial grant associated with relevant employee excellence awards.
The Vice-Chancellor (or nominee):
- approves Employee excellence award winners; and
- sets the value of the financial grant for Employee excellence awards.
4.2 Recognition of service
Employees will be recognised in the following way when they complete the relevant period of service:
| Period of service | Recognition |
| Written acknowledgement from the Chief People Officer on behalf of the University |
| Certificate of appreciation and invitation to Vice-Chancellor hosted function |
| Certificate of appreciation, invitation to Vice-Chancellor hosted function, and commemorative gift |
An Employee's period of service is defined as their employment with the University and includes periods of paid leave and unpaid leave of up to one month. The People Portfolio will confirm an Employee's period of service. Service prior to 1 January 1967 will not be recognised.
4.3 Other initiatives
The University encourages the use of other recognition and reward initiatives at the discretion of the work area. Any costs associated with these initiatives must be budgeted for, and funded by, the relevant work area and be compliant with all relevant financial Policies and Procedures.
4.4 Delegations
| Position | Delegation |
| Vice-Chancellor |
|
5 References
Nil.
6 Schedules
This procedure must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Procedure Information
| Accountable Officer | Chief People Officer |
| Responsible Officer | Chief People Officer |
| Policy Type | University Procedure |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 15/4/2024 |
| Effective Date | 15/4/2024 |
| Review Date | 15/4/2029 |
| Relevant Legislation | |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | |
| Related Procedures | |
| Related forms, publications and websites | |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| A person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University....moreA person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University. An operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy....moreAn operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. The person bearing the title of Vice-Chancellor and President, or as otherwise defined in the University of Southern Queensland Act 1998, including a person acting in that position....moreThe person bearing the title of Vice-Chancellor and President, or as otherwise defined in the University of Southern Queensland Act 1998, including a person acting in that position. | |
| Definitions that relate to this procedure only | |
| Keywords | Recognition, long service, excellence awards, reward, recognition of service |
| Record No | 13/316PL |