Reward and Recognition
Departmental Recognition
Various departments and schools throughout Mason recognize faculty and staff with their own awards. These awards are funded by the department and aligned with the culture and strategic objectives within that unit. If you’d like your department or school’s award listed here, please let us know at awards@gmu.edu.
If your school has a monetary award that needs to be processed and paid through HR, please complete and submit the Departmental Monetary Award form.
Staff Awards
About the Award
The College of Education and Human Development Staff Awards celebrates the exemplary contributions of staff members in support of the College’s mission. The ceremony honors four staff members in the following categories:
- Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award was created to recognize extraordinary contributions in creative work and services that directly advance diversity and inclusion within the CEHD community. The recipient is a staff member who demonstrates cultural competence by engaging colleagues and community members in a way that recognizes and engages our differences as strengths and opportunities for learning, innovation, and growth. The recipient also advocates for new policies when they see instances of potential injustice or bias toward students, staff and faculty.
- Exemplary Service Award
This award recognizes a staff member who works to call attention to, and eliminate, barriers for students and staff, accepts additional responsibilities outside of their usual duties, has taken on a significant role in the development and implementation of a new initiative to improve the operations of the College and/or their area, and has taken initiative in university-wide projects.
- Junior Staff Award
This award celebrates an outstanding staff member who has been employed within CEHD for 3 years or less at time of nomination, has made great first impressions across the College, is eager to learn, has gone above and beyond to support students and the CEHD mission through outstanding customer service, and has sought new opportunities for growth.
- Senior Staff Award
This award celebrates an outstanding staff member who has been employed within CEHD for over 3 years at time of nomination, has record of outstanding mentorship to new and junior staff, and has gone above and beyond to support students and the CEHD mission through outstanding customer service.
OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Awards
About the Award
The OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award is an annual award presented to up to seven George Mason community members in recognition of being an outstanding mentor to undergraduate students who participate in research and creative activities and for fostering a culture of student scholarship.
Recipients receive a $3,000 award and an engraved crystal plaque.
Nomination Procedure
A call for nominations will be made annually by the Office of the Provost in late January and will be due by March 1. Nominees will be given approximately two weeks to submit a completed portfolio that includes: a one-page narrative statement describing the nominee's perspective on being a successful mentor and how the nominee fosters a culture of student scholarship at George Mason, two letters of reference (one each from a student mentee and a current GMU colleague), and a 2-3 page document detailing evidence of the nominee’s mentoring experience.
Nominated individuals are considered only for one award cycle and nominations must be resubmitted each year. The due date for nominations occurs around the end of February and the committee submits its recommendation to the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian by mid-March.
Once the portfolio deadline has passed, a committee comprised of faculty from across campus will rate and review the portfolios to determine the final award recipients.
Mary Roper Award
About the Award
The Mary Roper Award honors a classified staff member who has shown outstanding service in support of the core goals of the college – improving the quality of the liberal arts experience for all students, increasing the capacity for noteworthy and innovative scholarship and creating and strengthening external relationships. The recipient directly supports the mission of the department or college through his or her work with faculty, students, staff or the greater university community.
The college holds a reception each fall to honor the award recipient as well as other outstanding staff members. This event is open to all members of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The award is named for Mary Roper, who worked in the Department of Biology and in the dean's office of the College of Arts and Sciences for a total of 14 years.
Nomination Procedure
Please submit a letter of nomination to the Mary Roper Award Selection Committee, MSN 3A3, or via email to Joan Mlotkowski (jmlotkow@gmu.edu). Please include a paragraph on the candidate’s background (i.e., length of service in the department and/or at GMU) and describe the candidate’s contributions that went above and beyond during the past year.
Annual Celebration of Success Dean's Award
About the Award
The Annual Celebration of Success Dean’s Awards is an end-of-year celebration of all Mason Science faculty and staff contributions. Numerous award categories recognize creative approaches to education, positive impacts that have brought attention to the College, and additional contributions made by faculty and staff. Visit the Celebration of Success webpage to learn more about the various award categories and eligibility.
Length of Service Award
About the Award
The College of Business Length of Service Award helps acknowledge and celebrate the employees who receive the Commonwealth of Virginia’s service awards. As part of this celebration, each recipient is awarded a monetary award based on their length of service.
Staff and Admin Faculty Service Awards
About the Award
The College of Business Staff Service Awards recognize top staff and Admin Faculty members' exemplary service in support of the College. The awards honor recipients in the following categories:
- Outstanding Citizenship Award
The Outstanding Citizenship Award recognizes an administrative faculty or classified staff member who demonstrates exceptional citizenship and dedication by embodying the core values of the Costello College of Business and George Mason University. The awardee exhibits unwavering commitment to the university's values, thereby contributing to the creation of a positive and inclusive environment for all community members.
- Outstanding Customer Service Award
The Outstanding Customer Service award recognizes an Administrative Faculty or Classified Staff member who demonstrates outstanding commitment to delivering unparalleled support and service to the students, faculty, staff, and external constituents of the Costello College of Business.
- Service Award
The Classified Staff Service Award is to recognize top staff members' exemplary service in support of the college. Recipients will have continuously demonstrated:
- A proactive approach in working with students, faculty, and staff in meeting requests and providing solutions;
- Fully identifies with and understands the needs of students, faculty and staff;
- Can always be counted on to deliver results regardless of circumstances;
- Inspires confidence that they are fully capable of executing assigned responsibilities; and
- Consistently goes above and beyond to serve the school.
Nomination Procedure
Nominations (by oneself, a colleague, or a supervisor) should include a detailed rationale that speaks to the award criteria. We also encourage the use of outside materials (recognition emails, accolades, etc.) to augment the strength of the nomination. The recipients will be selected by committee and will be celebrated at the CCB Award Ceremony and Ice-Cream Social.
Facilities Employee of the Month
About the Award
The employee of the month recognition highlights the outstanding work of a Facilities employee who demonstrates the mission of George Mason University Facilities. We are the technical and business experts of choice in terms of all facilities related issues, with the total trust and confidence of our students, faculty, and staff.
Nomination Procedure
Visit the Facilities Employee of the Month webpage and complete the online form to submit a nomination.
All Staff Awards
About the Award
This award recognizes a person by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, and perseverance within their unit in Housing and Residence Life. The recipient shows a sense of care for those they interact with and a commitment to their role and responsibilities. This award also celebrates recipients in the following categories:
- Excellence in Leadership
This individual demonstrates initiative to work collaboratively and consistently with others in Housing & Residence Life. This individual has also exhibited consistent efforts to contribute their time and energy to cultivate impactful work, initiatives, or presence. This award recognizes a staff member who serves as a role model to their coworkers, leads by example, and has helped foster a sense of pride in their work and George Mason University.
- Facilities Employee of the Year
This award recognizes a person by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department – Facilities Zone 4. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a seriousness to their role and responsibilities.
- Housekeeping & Special Projects Employee of the Year
This award recognizes a person by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department – Housekeeping & Special Projects. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a seriousness to their role and responsibilities.
- HRL Employee of the Year
The Employee of the Year award recognizes a person who demonstrates extraordinary service, dedication, and contributions to the department beyond the requirements and expectations of the job. Characteristics of an employee’s performance that contribute to excellence include superior job performance and a high degree of proficiency in their areas of responsibility; outstanding personal traits such as dedication, honesty, and initiative. This individual incorporates innovation and creativity into their approach and can work cooperatively as a member of their team.
- HRL Partner of the Year
The Partner of the Year award recognizes an HRL campus partner who has displayed excellence in maximizing resources or increasing efficiency in programs, processes, or services that enhance the student experience. Nominees of the award display efforts that directly or indirectly positively affect students by addressing identified gaps and needs to work alongside HRL staff to find solutions. Those who are nominated for this award do not work within Housing & Residence Life.
- New Professional of the Year
This award recognizes a person, by their co-workers and peers, who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a commitment to their role and responsibilities. This person is in their first two years of working for George Mason HRL.
- Residence Life Employee of the Year
This award recognizes a person by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department – Residence Life. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a seriousness to their role and responsibilities.
- Residential Services Employee of the Year
This award recognizes a person by their co-workers and peers who has demonstrated dedication, collaboration, contribution, and perseverance within their department – Residential Services. This person demonstrates a sense of care for those they interact with as well as a seriousness to their role and responsibilities.
- Supervisor of the Year
This award recognizes a professional staff member who demonstrates a robust, informed supervisory experience for their team, allowing for personal and/or professional development of supervisees, guidance through success within their position, and overall holistic care. This award recognizes a person who inspires others, demonstrates trust in their team, and advocates for the betterment of those they serve. Those who supervise full-time staff members are eligible for this award.
ITS Employee of the Month
About the Award
The Employee of the Month Program was established to provide recognition to ITS employees for their outstanding contributions to ITS. The ITS Employee of the Month Award seeks to recognize ITS staff members who demonstrate a positive and energetic attitude about their work for ITS, a willingness to share knowledge and experience with others in the organization, a commitment to the mission of ITS, and a positive image of ITS within the university community.
Nomination Procedure
Complete and submit the online nomination form. At least three of the five criterion/questions are required. Please be as descriptive in your responses as possible, as these are printed and shared with the nominee. Incomplete forms may delay or void your nomination. If you have any questions, please contact itseom@gmu.edu.
ITS Leadership Impact Award
About the Award
The ITS Leadership Impact Award is given to leaders that demonstrate the ability to make things happen by encouraging and channeling the contributions of others; developing viable partnerships and networks of people, acting as a catalyst for change and continuous improvement while operating in the spirit of the Mission, Vision, Values, and Principles (MVVP) of ITS. The ITS Leadership Impact award is presented twice each year as a reminder that leadership can be demonstrated anytime, anywhere, by anyone. This award is a recognition for those excellent leaders, at all levels, within ITS.
Nomination Procedure
Visit the Leadership Impact Award webpage and submit the online nomination form.
Patriot Academic Advisor Inspiration Award
About the Award
The Patriot Academic Advisor Inspiration Award recognizes a member of the George Mason undergraduate academic advising community who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to and understanding of effective diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their academic advising of students. The recipient of this award will receive $250 and a plaque of recognition which is presented at the Academic Advisor of the Year awards ceremony each spring.
Nomination Procedure
The Office of Academic Advising will email all advisors when the nomination period is open and include details on how to nominate candidates. Nominations may be submitted by Mason faculty and staff. A committee convened by the Office of Academic Advising will then review the nominations and select the winner. The winner will be included in the Academic Advisor of the Year ceremony in the spring semester. For more information, please email advisor@gmu.edu.
Unsung Hero Academic Advisor Award
About the Award
The Unsung Hero Academic Advisor Award recognizes a member of the George Mason academic advising community who demonstrates strong advocacy for students within their academic unit. The individual is committed to a “student-first” perspective in their academic advising practice by going above and beyond to advocate for students, especially students in a particular population. The recipient of this award receives a $250 monetary prize and a plaque of recognition which is presented at the Academic Advisor of the Year awards ceremony each spring.
Nomination Procedure
The Office of Academic Advising will email all advisors when the nomination period is open and include details on how to nominate candidates. Nominations may be submitted by Mason faculty and staff. A committee convened by the Office of Academic Advising will then review the nominations and select the winner. The winner will be included in the Academic Advisor of the Year ceremony in the spring semester. For more information, please email advisor@gmu.edu.
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award
About the Award
The purpose of this award is to promote and recognize excellence in undergraduate academic advising at George Mason University. Each year, undergraduate students are encouraged to nominate an undergraduate academic advisor who has had a positive impact on them. The award is open to faculty or staff members who have undergraduate academic advising responsibilities.
Nomination Procedure
Nominations are accepted every spring semester through online voting on the Undergraduate Education Academic Advising website.
A committee of faculty and staff, including the previous year’s award recipient, reviews the student nominations. Decisions are based on the quality of the nominations. The award, including $1000, will be presented at the annual V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Luncheon, typically held in April or May.
Teaching Excellence Awards
About the Award
Outstanding teaching is an integral part of Mason’s mission and is deserving of significant recognition. The Teaching Excellence Awards are both institutional recognition and a monetary acknowledgment of the significant work that faculty members devote to course planning and preparation; curriculum development; and innovative teaching, advising, and undergraduate and graduate mentoring.
Nomination Procedure
The awards are open to all full-time faculty members who have already completed at least 3 years of full-time teaching at George Mason. As part of this process, Stearns Center offers a Teaching Excellence Award with special recognition in Mason Core teaching, one that recognizes teaching for High Impact Learning, and one to recognize teaching for Inclusion and Equity. Nominees who qualify for the Mason Core recognition should have taught Core courses at least three of the last six years; nominees who qualify for the High Impact Learning recognition should have taught courses aligned with Mason Impact guidelines in three of the past five years; nominees who qualify for the Inclusion and Equity recognition should have a multi-year record of teaching courses where the content and approaches align with key inclusive teaching principles.
Nominations from students, faculty members, or administrators are welcome. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis; any nominations submitted after the deadline will be considered for the following awards cycle. Complete and submit the online form to submit a nomination.
Distinguished Library Faculty Award
About the Award
The Distinguished Library Faculty Award is an annual award presented to an administrative and professional library faculty member with at least five years of service, recognizing their sustained and outstanding contribution to the George Mason Libraries’ mission and to their field of expertise.
The award recipient will receive a $2,000 award and framed certificate. The recipient will also be recognized publicly as part of the Stearns Center's annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence event.
Nomination Procedure
A call for nominations will be made annually by the Office of the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian in mid-January. Complete nomination packets must include a nomination letter, a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference supporting the nomination. References should represent faculty colleagues from the University Libraries, from Mason’s instructional faculty, and from colleagues in the wider professional community. Nominated individuals are considered only for one award cycle and nominations must be resubmitted each year. The due date for nominations occurs around the end of February and the committee submits its recommendation to the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian by mid-March.
The Dean of Libraries and University Librarian forms a selection committee each year consisting of five faculty members: two selected from Librarians’ Council by its membership; two selected from the Management Advisory Council by its membership (excluding members of the University Librarian’s Council); and one selected from the University Librarian’s Council by its membership. The Dean of Libraries and University Librarian appoints the Committee Chair.
Staff Excellence Awards
About the Award
The University Libraries Staff Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions and achievements by Libraries faculty and staff in support of the academic mission of George Mason University. These awards honor individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation, and service in enhancing the library experience for the university community.
Nomination Procedure
Visit the Leadership Impact Award webpage and submit the online nomination form.
Outstanding Service Award
About the Award
This award recognizes University Life employees in good standing for at least one year who exhibit exceptional initiative and consistent, above and beyond service and leadership. This award honors individuals who demonstrate outstanding dedication and significantly contribute to the betterment of University Life. Recipients embody a commitment to excellence and proactive effort, serving as role models within the George Mason community.
Nomination Procedure
Complete and submit the online nomination form. Nomination periods will close October 15, February 15, or June 15 (or the next business day if the deadline falls on the weekend).
Partnership Award
About the Award
This award is open to all George Mason employees who work outside of University Life. It recognizes individuals who have significantly influenced the “building of bridges” between a University Life office and another George Mason unit. The recipient demonstrates enthusiasm, leadership, and openness to collaboration in the development of a University Life program or initiative and provides evidence of outcomes that have led to enhanced student learning and development.
Nomination Procedure
Submit to ulawards@gmu.edu by October 15 for the Fall award and June 15 for the Summer award (or the next business day if the deadline falls on the weekend).
Positive Impact Award
About the Award
This award recognizes University Life employees in good standing for at least one year who demonstrate outstanding achievement related to specific job performance or successful completion of a project or event. This award honors those whose exceptional efforts have made a significant positive impact, showcasing their dedication and excellence within the George Mason community.
Nomination Procedure
Complete and submit the online nomination form. Nomination periods will close October 15, February 15, or June 15 (or the next business day if the deadline falls on the weekend).