Policy 304 - Presidential Recognition Program

Section: Compensation
Policy Number: 304
Responsible Office: Compensation
Effective Date: 4/1/01
Revised: 6/30/02; 10/28/14; 7/30/15; 8/28/17; 1/24/24

Scope

All active full-time and regular part-time administrators and staff are eligible for nomination to the program.

Policy

The Presidential Recognition Program is designed to recognize and reward an employee or group of employees for “special” accomplishment(s) achieved. The program reinforces a spirit of innovation, problem-solving, teamwork, efficiency, and student-centered service throughout the University. The impact of recognition is immediate and is intended to encourage future similar behavior and inspire others to put forth effort above and beyond their normal job duties.

The primary criteria for award recommendation should be a project, behavior or implementable idea that will have significant impact on the university’s mission and or strategic plan. This event can be an implementable idea or action that the employee has initiated whose result will enhance student success or academic quality, increase revenue generation or improve efficiency, productivity or resource reallocation. It may also be evident in extraordinary service actions or participation in a committee or event that was significantly above and beyond the employee’s normal job duties with measurable results.

There are three tier levels for the Presidential Recognition Program:

  • Tier I Awards range from $ $250.00 to $500.00
    The activity should reflect extraordinary effort above and beyond the employee’s normal job duties. The implementation of this idea would have a positive impact at the department level. This tier requires approval at the Assistant/Associate VP or Dean level.
  • Tier II Awards range from $501.00 to $1,000.00
    The activity should reflect extraordinary effort above and beyond the employee’s normal job duties. The implementation of this idea would have a significant positive impact at the unit or school level. This tier requires approval at the Assistant/Associate VP or Dean level.
  • Tier III Awards range from $1,001.00 to $2,500.00
    The primary criteria for Tier III should represent an event of a broader scope than those listed above. The impact of this event would have an extraordinary impact at the university level on furthering institutional priorities. This tier requires the approval of the Sector leader (VP or Provost).

The program’s plan document is available from the Human Resources office. The manager’s Recommendation Form is located on the HR Forms page.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive an award, employees must be in an active working status on the payroll of St. John’s at the time that the award is paid. Employees who have resigned, retired, or been terminated are ineligible for an award. In addition, prorated award payments will not be made to employees who resign, retire or are terminated during the year. Employees whose positions are funded by external sources (i.e., grants and contracts) may not be eligible for certain University-funded compensation programs.

St. John’s University reserves the right to modify or cancel any of its award programs at any time, without advance notice.

Procedures

Managers should partner with HR Services to discuss the award details prior to submission, and then complete and submit a Presidential Recognition Program Recommendation Form for each award nominee, anytime during the year. Recommendations should be made immediately following the project completion, behavior or implementable idea being recognized.

The Compensation department in partnership with HR Services will review submissions to ensure that the recommendations meet the award criteria outlined in this program. The manager will be notified within two weeks regarding the approval status.

St. John's University, New York
Human Resources Policy Manual