Skip to main content

Awards & Recognition

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recognizes the collective efforts that all employees contribute to the overall mission of the University and encourage opportunities for those efforts to be acknowledged either peer-to-peer or by management.

The Awards & Recognition program rewards employees for their motivation to continually improve, innovation and creative management of resources, and ability to set and achieve high standards and goals, and being great teammates.

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) administers the following University Recognition awards: Departmental, State Service Recognition, and the Outstanding Encouragement of Learning and Development awards. OHR also promotes and encourages employees to nominate those who consistently go above-and-beyond their job responsibilities for a University Award or a deserving State Wide Award.

The Office of Human Resources maintains an official Awards Registry of all Departmental, State-wide and University Awards. Departmental recognition programs for all employees must be in writing, and approved by the Office of Human Resources. All departmental recognition programs must be registered on the University’s Awards Registry. Departments wishing to get an award approved and added to the Awards Registry must complete and submit the attached Recognition and Awards Registry Data Form.

It is Carolina’s practice to encourage and promote programs that motivate and enhance employee morale.  Departments should foster award programs that recognize employees for extraordinary work performance and collaboration, as well as outstanding service within the University and in the community.

Learn More: Departmental Recognition Policy
The Governor’s Awards for Excellence Program is designed to acknowledge and express appreciation for outstanding accomplishments that do not fall entirely within the scope of normal duties, but are in the nature of a major contribution reflecting credit on the person and State service.

Learn More: State Awards
Carolina recognizes outstanding excellence, distinguished service and public service contributions by employees through various University Award Programs, such as the C. Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, the Employee Forum Community Award, the Blackwood Excellence In Research Administration Award, the Ned Brooks Award For Public Service, and the Robert E. Bryan Public Service Award.

Learn more: University Awards
The University’s State Service Recognition Program recognizes and expresses appreciation for the long-term service of permanent employees, both full-time and part-time (regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours each week). Eligibility for awards is determined by an employee’s Total State Service according to the calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). The program currently recognizes employee service at five-year intervals.