Awards

Rice Staff Excellence Award

Presented by the Rice Staff Council

Do you know a staff member who goes above and beyond? The Rice Staff Excellence Award recognizes five full-time staff members annually for their exceptional efforts, commitment to the university, and embodiment of the RICE core values: Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence. Each recipient receives a $1,000 award and is honored at the President’s Staff Recognition event.

Eligibility

  • Full-time, non-temporary staff with at least two years of service by April 1st of the current year and in good standing with HR.
  • Current Rice Staff Council members and Selection Panel members are ineligible.
  • Previous recipients may not receive the award again within five years.

Nomination Process

Nominations can be submitted by any Rice community member using this  Google Form link. 

If you’ve started filling out a Google Form and need to return later, follow these steps:

  1. Log in with Your Rice NetID and Password:
    • Go to Google and sign in with your Rice email (NetID and password). Ensure you're using your Rice account, not a personal Google account.
  2. Open the Form Link:
    • Use the original link you received to access the form. Your progress will automatically load if you’re logged in.
  3. Continue and Submit:
    • Finish the remaining questions and click "Submit" when you’re done.

Troubleshooting/Missing Progress: Ensure you’re logged into your Rice account. Switch accounts if needed by clicking your profile icon in Google.

No self-nominations will be accepted.

Selection Process

The Selection Panel will review nominations using this scoring rubric and select recipients by late March/early April. Panel members include:

  • Staff Advocacy Committee members
  • Current Staff Council Chair and Vice Chair (optional)
  • Previous year’s recipients (optional, must still be employed at Rice)
  • Non-voting HR representative

A total of five awards will be given out in the following categories:

  • One Rising Star: Staff with 2-5 years of service by April 1st of the current year.
  • Two Non-Exempt Staff
  • Two Exempt Staff

If no suitable candidates are found for a category, multiple awards may be given in another category. This is up to the discretion of the Selection Panel.

Recognition

Awardees will be announced through campus news and celebrated at the President’s Staff Recognition event in late spring.

If you have questions, contact staffcouncil@rice.edu.