Description
The Rowan Recognition program recognizes and rewards faculty and staff for work and behaviors that support the
mission, goals, values and initiatives of Rowan University. The work and behavior must be considered “above and
beyond” the day to day responsibilities of the Rowan community member.
Award Categories
The following award categories were taken from the presentation given by Dr. Houshmand in April of 2013
(http://www.rowan.edu/president/Documents/University_Assembled_4.26.13.pdf). The recognition subcommittee of the Strategic Planning Council has made recognition recommendations for six of the values that
were cited in the original presentation. These values and their definitions include:
Customer Service
Customer Service is a series of activities performed by the University intended to improve the level of customer
satisfaction. Customer service is critical to maintaining ongoing positive relationships with customers. At Rowan, a
customer service orientation means that we focus on positively impacting our students’ overall educational
experience and our internal and external stakeholders’ interactions with University offices and programs. Ways in
which faculty and staff can demonstrate customer service include the following:
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Deliver courteous and prompt service
Take personal responsibility for resolving customer concerns
Strive to exceed customer expectations
Anticipate the needs of those we serve and offer proactive and flexible solutions
Value constant improvement by measuring and tracking customer satisfaction
Create strategies to help serve customers more effectively
Values the importance of delivering high quality service to both internal and external customers
Engagement
Employee engagement is a workplace approach designed to ensure that employees are committed to the
University’s goals and values, motivated to contribute to the University’s success, while enhancing their own sense
of well-being. In designing a workplace where employees feel inspired by the work they do and the mission of the
University, the University must implement practices which attract talented employees, support those employees,
and enable their learning and development. In such an environment, employees will be more effective,
innovative, and strive for continuous improvement. Employee engagement efforts can take the following forms:
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Provide opportunities for Rowan employees (Faculty, Staff, & Administrators) to contribute to the
University in meaningful ways that help to foster collegiality, responsiveness, and trust
Design opportunities for the University community to participate in conversations regarding the
University’s progress, decision making, goals, and outcomes
Establish avenues and means of dialogue that translate into employees, students, and alumni feeling
valued and appreciated.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the ideas of students; establish holistic communication mechanisms and
opportunities for students to contribute to and support the four pillars of the institution.
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Communicates the mission and vision of Rowan University to others and encourages involvement
Reflects Rowan University’s vision and values through action
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs are organizational leaders who are willing to take risk and exercise initiative. An entrepreneur
generates new ideas and business practices. The entrepreneur takes advantage of market opportunities by
planning, organizing, and employing available resources often to create new products and/or services or to
improve existing products and/or services. Entrepreneurs identify a need in the market, in the University, or in
their department and develop strategies designed to fill that need. Entrepreneurship may be demonstrated by
employees at all levels of the University in the following ways:
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Participate in collaborative problem-solving, breaking down boundaries and/or creating new relationships
to improve the way work gets done
Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation
Plan and implement strategies that are in the best interests of the University
Take a proactive and innovative approach toward finding sustainable solutions to University challenges
Demonstrate a high degree of financial responsibility coupled with sound judgment
Inclusivity
Inclusivity is what ties varied individuals together into a cohesive and productive whole. Inclusivity means working
to create an environment in which University employees share a sense of belonging, mutual respect, being valued
for who they are, and being supported by others in the University so that each employee can perform his or her
best work. Rowan University employees can demonstrate inclusivity through the following acts:
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Promote an inclusive workplace by inviting diverse viewpoints, encouraging collaboration, and modeling
appreciation and respect towards colleagues
Embrace the importance of cultural sensitivity in the workplace: actively work to resolve conflicts due to
cultural differences
Help Rowan University engage and retain students, alumni and employees by ensuring all individuals and
groups are represented and included, leveraging differences for a more effective, innovative and
productive University
Examine existing practices, policies and systems for unintended and/or historic bias, and work to broaden
these structures to reflect multiple perspectives
Shows respect for the feelings and opinions of others
Student-Centeredness
Student-centeredness means providing programs, services, and learning strategies focused on each student's
interests, abilities, and learning styles. This philosophy acknowledges the student’s voice as central to the learning
experience for every learner and refers to a wide variety of educational programs, learning experiences,
instructional approaches, and academic and programmatic supports that are intended to address the distinct
learning needs, interests, aspirations, and cultural backgrounds of individual students and groups of
students. Student-centered approaches include the following:
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Provide optimal learning experiences and services that lead to student success
Commitment to a safe environment where students feel comfortable to learn and grow and enjoy their
university experience
Empower our students to take responsibility for their academic work, social life and career development.
Promote an institutional culture that engenders a caring and supportive environment that helps each
individual student feel valued.
Serve as an avenue of communication and information for prospective students
Help students develop by investing time and effort in coaching and/or mentoring
Teamwork
Teamwork is work accomplished by several individuals who each perform a role but understand that the efficiency
of the whole and accomplishment of the team is more significant than that of the individual role. Teamwork
involves two or more employees, faculty, or staff with complementary backgrounds and skills who share common
goals and work in a coordinated fashion in assessing a situation, planning a solution, or resolving a problem.
Teamwork at Rowan may be demonstrated through the following:
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A commitment to common goals based on open and honest communication while showing respect,
concern and support for each other
Significant changes, modifications, or approaches that measurably improve work productivity, efficiency
and quality
Developing an innovative process or procedure that measurably impacts the University community in a
positive manner
Achievement of measurable improvement in interactions with all customers
Proactively seek out different perspectives, breaking down silos and communicating the “why” behind
decisions
Recognition of each member’s contribution to the team
Values team success over individual success
Appendix-Individual Nomination Form
Nominee’s Information
Name:
Title/Position:
Department:
Email/Phone extension
Nominator’s Information
Name:
Department:
Title/Position:
Email/Phone extension:
Signature:
Which Rowan Value has been exemplified by the Nominee? (please enter one value in the box provided)
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Customer Service
Engagement
Entrepreneurship
Inclusivity
Student Centeredness
Teamwork
Please answer the following questions:
1). Please provide some background information that gives the committee an understanding of why the individual
is being nominated. If possible, briefly describe the nominee’s position and general job responsibilities. Why is the
individual’s achievement significant and deserving of recognition? Is there an issue, problem or situation that the
individual successfully addressed? How did this individual go above and beyond their typical responsibilities?
2). Explain how this accomplishment relates to the value for which the individual was nominated. For example,
how does this accomplishment exemplify (customer service, engagement, entrepreneurship, inclusivity, student
centeredness, teamwork)? Describe collaborative efforts with other disciplines/departments. How was leadership
and/or teamwork exemplified?
3). What were the results of the achievement? What impact does the contribution/achievement have on a
department and or the University? How does the Rowan community benefit? How did the
contribution/achievement improve service quality and or efficiency?
Statements of Support
Statements of support from colleagues, clients, students, alumni and other members of the Rowan community can
strengthen a nomination significantly. The committee will accept up to three statements of support for each
nomination.
Appendix-Team Nomination Form
Nominee’s Information
Team Name:
Individual Team Members Names:
Title/Positions:
Department(s):
Email/Phone extensions:
Nominator’s Information
Name:
Department:
Title/Position:
Email/Phone extension:
Signature:
Which Rowan Value has been exemplified by the Team? (please enter one value in the box provided)
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Customer Service
Engagement
Entrepreneurship
Inclusivity
Student Centeredness
Teamwork
Please answer the following questions:
1). Please provide some background information that gives the committee an understanding of why the team is
being nominated. If possible, briefly describe the team’s role and general job responsibilities. Why is the team’s
achievement significant and deserving of recognition? Is there an issue, problem or situation that the team
successfully addressed? How did this team go above and beyond their typical responsibilities?
2). Explain how this accomplishment relates to the value for which the team was nominated. For example, how
does this accomplishment exemplify (customer service, engagement, entrepreneurship, inclusivity, student
centeredness, teamwork)? Describe collaborative efforts with other disciplines/departments. How was leadership
and/or teamwork exemplified?
3). What were the results of the achievement? What impact does the contribution/achievement have on a
department and or the University? How does the Rowan community benefit? How did the
contribution/achievement improve service quality and or efficiency?
Statements of Support
Statements of support from colleagues, clients, students, alumni and other members of the Rowan community can
strengthen a nomination significantly. The committee will accept up to three statements of support for each
nomination.