Nominations may be written by a current co-worker, supervisor, or other member of the Rutgers community. All members of the Rutgers community are encouraged to participate and submit nominations on behalf of individuals or teams that meet the eligibility criteria. Nominations for those that were not selected for the award last year are eligible to submit a nomination again this year.

Each award category is aligned to one or more of the President’s value propositions and can accommodate individual and/or unit, departmental, interdepartmental, or campus team nominations. Additional eligibility criteria are outlined below.

• Only current full-time Rutgers faculty and staff are eligible for the Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Students), Rutgers Gateway Award (Service to Employees), Rutgers University Spirit Award, and Rutgers Outstanding Service Award. Nominations for faculty and/or staff teams that include student participants or part-time faculty or staff participants will also be accepted.
• Only full-time Rutgers staff are eligible for the Pride of Rutgers Award. Nominations for staff teams that include student or part-time staff participants will also be accepted.
• Only full-time Rutgers faculty and staff (either current or retired within the last 12 months) that have served the community for at least 20 years are eligible for the Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Awards.

No. Nominations in more than one award category will be determined ineligible for other awards in the same calendar year.

Individuals or teams selected for more than one Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Award will be determined ineligible for other awards in the same calendar year.

No. However, the nomination should demonstrate how all members of the team were active and contributed substantively to the nominated effort serving as the basis for the nomination. Teams of more than 10 must designate a team lead that will accept the award on behalf of the team.

Due to venue capacity limitations, no more than 10 members of a team may attend. Teams larger than 10 are required to designate a team member that will accept the award on behalf of the team.

Students may submit nominations on behalf of a faculty or staff member or a team. Nominations for faculty and/or staff teams that include student participants will be accepted.

Nominations will only be accepted via the online submission form on the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition program website.

After the recipients are selected, all nominees will be notified that they were nominated for an award. Both the nominee(s) (selected to receive the award) and the nominator will be invited to the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards ceremony.

All nominations are due by July 11, 2025. Submissions received after the deadline will not be processed.

Honorees will be selected and notified on or about October 17, 2025.

The Review Committee, comprised of full-time staff and faculty peers, will evaluate each nomination for suitability and eligibility. The committee will make recommendations to the President for final selection. The reviewers will consider the balance of the articulated outcomes and work effort made by the individual or team.

Honorees will be notified in writing by the Office of the President on or about October 17, 2025. An email will be sent to the email address submitted with the nomination notifying the honoree of their nomination and selection for the applicable award with an invitation to the Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards ceremony.

Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed.

Excluding the Rutgers Lifetime Contribution Award, the nominated effort must be within the last 12-month period. However, exceptions will be made for projects or activities that spanned multiple years in the research and planning phases but were finalized and implemented within the last year.

Yes, there will be an annual Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Awards ceremony honoring those who are selected to receive an award. Invitations will be sent out on or about October 17, 2025.

Nominees selected to receive a Presidential Employee Excellence Recognition Award will be invited along with the individual who nominated them. Due to venue capacity limitations, team award recipients larger than 10 are required to designate a team lead that will accept the award on behalf of the team.