Presidential Award for Outstanding Service
Objective
To recognize and award four (4) employees for outstanding work performance, service, leadership and contributions made to their office and department in serving the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and promoting excellence in higher education.
Employee Award Categories
- Civil Service
- Buildings and Grounds Maintenance (Civil Service or APT within area)
- Administrative, Professional and Technical (APT)
- Faculty Specialist
Each recipient shall receive a $1,000 monetary award and a certificate, and honored at a special awards reception and ceremony at the end of the academic year.
Award Eligibility
All full-time Civil Service, Buildings and Grounds Maintenance, APT and Faculty Specialists employees who have been employed continuously for no less than twelve (12) consecutive months for or in support of a UH Mānoa college, school, department, or program may be nominated.
An employee previously nominated may be nominated again provided that the employee has not been a recipient of the Presidential Award (or former Chancellor’s Award) within the last five (5) years.
Criteria for Selection
Employees shall be nominated based on their outstanding work performance, service, leadership and contributions to their office, department and UH Mānoa to promote excellence in higher education.
Examples of outstanding accomplishments by an employee include the following:
- Exceptional contributions to the achievement of the department’s program objectives
- Significant improvements in the delivery of service and/or cost savings to better serve the campus and/or department and its program objectives
- Significant contributions to social, scientific, technological or operational progress/development
- Contribution to creative solutions to difficult problems that benefit the campus and/or department
- Active participation in and contributions to professional, campus and/or community affairs, and promotion of a positive image for UH Mānoa
- Sustained merit and competence in the department, and contribution to the progress and success of the program
Supervisors and managers of programs shall also be nominated based on successful planning, management and execution of program functions including development and motivation of team of staff members to improve unit performance and services.
Nomination and Selection Procedure
- Nomination period is now open. Refer to the Presidential memo for additional details.
- Nomination deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026. Submit nominations here: https://go.hawaii.edu/kRT. All documents must be uploaded.
- Each nominee is allowed a maximum of three (3) nominations, which may be from employees, students, and/or community members. Each nomination is limited to two (2) pages including the justification and pertinent supporting information.
- Nominations are received in sequential order, and only the first three (3) nominations per candidate will be submitted to the awards review committee.
- Submitted letters of support or recommendation will be counted toward the three (3) nominations maximum per candidate.
- A review committee will evaluate the nominees based on the nominations and supporting justification submitted, advise the President of all nominations and recommend the top two (2) nominations in each category.
- Nominees will be notified of their nomination and the identity of the nominator(s) after the committee reviews all nominations, unless otherwise specified.
Presidential Citation for Meritorious Teaching
The Office of Faculty Development & Academic Support coordinates nominations for this award.
Nominate an Employee
Nominations for the President’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching are coordinated by the Office of Faculty Development & Academic Support. Please visit ofdas.hawaii.edu for nomination information including criteria, eligibility requirements and submission procedures.