SUBJECT: STAR PERFORMER AWARDS: ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
WITH PAY FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
APPLICABILITY: ALL REGULAR UNT STAFF & UNT SYSTEM
EMPLOYEES
1. Purpose:
As authorized under the provisions of Texas Government Code 661.911,
the Star Performer Award is established to provide incentive and recognition
awards consisting of leave with pay for regular staff members whose performance
is demonstrated to be outstanding as documented by employee performance
evaluations.
2. Allocation of Hours:
The President approves the number of hours per fiscal year to be allocated
to a pool for Administrative Leave for Outstanding Performance or Star
Performer Awards. The pool will be distributed between Vice Presidential
areas on the basis of total staff employment within each area. The Vice
Presidents then determine the distribution of hours between departments,
colleges and schools within their area for the fiscal year and may choose
to combine smaller departments into units for distribution purposes, in
which case the combined unit then follows the procedures for selection
under the direction of an assigned unit head. Awards may be distributed
at any time during the fiscal year following the eligibility, nomination,
and selection requirements as set forth in items 3 and 4 below. The total
amount of leave per award any employee may be granted under this policy
may not exceed one standard workday for the employee, and also may be
less. Employees are not eligible to receive an award within 24 months
of receipt of a previous award.
3. Eligibility:
Each Star Performer Award recipient must satisfy at a minimum the following
eligibility criteria to be documented on the Star Performer Award Nomination/Approval
form:
a. Retirement-eligible regular staff, non-probationary;
b. At least a 3.5 “excellent” overall score
on current performance review, if applicable;
c. No formal disciplinary action on file within 12
months of date of award;
d. Written documentation of outstanding performance
meriting an award; and
e. No previous award within the past 24 months.
4. Nomination and Selection Process:
4.1 Nominations shall be open to the entire campus
community, for the broadest possible opportunity for recognition of
individual outstanding performance; however, selection shall be primarily
the responsibility of the employing department or unit head, to ensure
adherence to the criteria of outstanding performance documented by performance
appraisals, as specified by the law.
4.2 Nominations may be submitted by any staff member
other than the employee, including department heads and other administrators,
including part-time or student employees; or by any faculty member,
whether full-time or part-time; or by any UNT student.
The Star Performer Award Nomination/Approval form shall be submitted
to the employing supervisor or to the department or unit head, who has
the responsibility to determine if the nominee is eligible for consideration
for the award based on the eligibility criteria in item 3 above.
4.3 Nominations may be submitted at any time and are
not required to follow a formal call for nominations procedure, although
the department or unit head may issue a call for nominations if they
choose.
4.4 Selection processes within each unit shall be
flexible according to the size and composition of the unit, the number
of nominations received, and the size of the pool of administrative
leave available, but shall in all circumstances provide the appropriate
opportunity for a fair evaluation of the nominee(s). Outstanding
performance as documented by performance evaluations shall in all cases
be the primary criteria. In no case is a unit required to grant an award
merely because pool leave is available.
4.5 Reasons for selection/non-selection shall be appropriately
documented and maintained on record by the unit.
4.6 An award to an employee may be made at any time
following the options indicated below:
a. The department or unit head may choose to make
all selection decisions either by reviewing and making determination
on each nomination as received or by pooling nominations until a group
has been received and then making selection decision(s). (This option
is probably most appropriate for smaller units, or if only a single
nomination has been received within the unit, or if the number of nominations
does not exceed the pool of leave available to the unit).
b. If multiple nominations have been received, the
department or unit head may establish a selection committee of at least
three members to review and make recommendations regarding the most
appropriate candidate or candidates to receive the award or awards.
The committee’s recommendations are subject to review and approval
by the department or unit head.
5. Documentation:
When the selection for an award is made, the department shall file with
the employee’s departmental time record the signed Nomination/Approval
form indicating the employee’s award consisting of one full regular
workday of administrative leave. A copy of the Nomination/Approval form
shall be submitted to Human Resources for the employee’s personnel
file and for appropriate recognition of the employee, i.e., through the
HR Newsletter and/or public announcement.
6. Administration:
6.1 Annually, prior to the beginning of each fiscal
year, the Human Resources Department will work with the President and
Vice Presidents to establish an administrative leave pool for the coming
fiscal year and the distribution of hours to departments. The Human
Resources Department will promote the program via the HR Newsletter
and through other methods.
6.2 General Provisions:
a. Award leave time must be used within 12 months
of the date of the award or it shall be forfeited.
b. If upon audit the Human Resources Department determines
that the employee was not eligible for an award, the award will be revoked
and the employee’s leave balances will be used for any time taken,
if applicable.
c. An award recipient must request his/her award leave
time in advance, subject to the approval of the departmental supervisor
who has the authority to approve leave.
d. Department heads are encouraged to accommodate the
employee’s request to use his/her award leave time when requested,
and to provide for reasonable coverage of the employee’s assignment
in his/her absence inasmuch as possible.
e. Award leave hours may be taken by the employee in
partial day/hour increments if approved by the supervisor.
f. Award leave hours are not eligible for payment as
a lump sum benefit at termination of employment.
g. An award may not be granted to an employee who has
received a previous Star Performer Award within the last 24 months.
Time utilized from an award shall be designated as administrative leave
on the employee’s time card with the Nomination/Approval form serving
as documentation.
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