Purpose

The Excellence in Collaboration and Creativity Group Award was established to recognize staff members who have demonstrated leadership in the development and implementation of new and creative programs or processes that lead to improvements in their work area while supporting the mission of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. This award recognizes short-term, project-based groups who may come together for a specific task.

The Award

The group’s achievements will be commemorated with an award, a permanent display in the school’s administrative offices, and a cash award of $1,500 to be split between the group, or put toward a team event of the recipients’ choice. No more than one award will be given to a group in any single year. The award will be presented at the annual School of Public Health Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration.

Eligibility

This award is open to all SPH faculty and all P&A, civil service, and labor-represented staff. Groups who are previous winners of this award are not eligible for a second award for a period of three years.

Principal Nominator

To nominate someone for this award, you must be a member of the School of Public Health faculty or staff.

Evaluation Criteria

The focus of this award is to celebrate an exceptional team dynamic that is realized by bringing out the best in each team member and adjusting plans as team members learn and adapt. Outcomes may not yet be fully achieved, but the team, at a minimum, is on the path to project completion. For the purpose of this award, creativity is viewed as, but not limited to:

• A creative solution to a unique problem; or
• A more effective process or structure to meet a specific need; or
• Integrating new or existing resources at your disposal to advance your program and/or a project; or
• Finding alternative ways to meet a specific goal while reducing overall costs.

Nomination Documentation

• A statement of no more than two pages presenting the creative, collaborative, improvement effort for the specific need addressed by this project or solution. The statement should include a brief description of the project, including the duration, scope, team composition and roles, and impact, if available.
• No more than three letters of support from peers, colleagues, supervisors, administrators, students, alumni or other University of Minnesota community members who have firsthand knowledge of the nominee’s experience. The letters should provide evidence of the qualities described in the above criteria and should detail the areas in which the nominee’s performance has been outstanding, and describe specifically how the nominee has demonstrated extraordinary initiative, skill or creativity.
• From 2021, no letters of support beyond the letter of nomination are required. They are optional.
• Nominations are due March 31, 2025. Submit your nomination here.

To facilitate evaluation, please have one person act as the primary nominator, compiling all of the letters of support and other material prior to submitting online for the review committee.

Excerpts from award recipients’ nomination letters may be read at the awards ceremony. Following the ceremony, the winner will receive a complete copy of the nomination submission.

Previous Recipients