by Robert A. Scott
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While leaders should always express appreciation for faculty, staff, and student workers, we often set aside special ceremonies to make the expression more formal. Some of the more frequent styles of campus-wide employee appreciation are described here. Division and department celebrations are described later.
These events for faculty and staff are distinguished from alumni and fundraising parties that celebrate the institution and particular volunteers or philanthropic prospects.
One form of appreciation is to hold a public ceremony for those celebrating a work anniversary, say 5-year, 10-year, etc. I have seen 40- and 45-year celebrants. A buffet dinner would be served and spouses and children included, thus making it a family affair.
Another form of recognition is to ask members of the campus community to nominate colleagues for recognition for ‘excellence in service.’ College and university officials usually talk about academic excellence, but excellence can take place throughout the campus. Biologists could not conduct their classes and research without clean and well-stocked labs. The submission of research grant proposals requires secretarial assistance. Sports teams rely on the grounds crew. All these, and more, are forms of excellence to be celebrated with families of the awardees in attendance.
The end of the fall semester is time for a holiday party that includes both faculty and staff and dinner and dancing. These occasions provide opportunities for the president and senior staff team to roam the tables, greet members of the campus community, and listen to thoughts and ideas some are too shy to send by letter or email. This is a great community builder.
The end of the spring semester, following graduation, is still another opportunity for a campus-wide thank you, perhaps picnic style if the campus has a place for it. A large tent can be erected if the weather looks problematic. For institutions without a grassy campus, picnics can be held indoors. Burgers, hot dogs, and fries taste just as good when grilled indoors or out.
In addition to campus-wide celebrations, employee appreciation events can be held on a division or department level as well. These may be more the norm on large university campuses where it is not practical to seat everyone, except in the football stadium.
These division and department celebrations are held to note birthdays and work anniversaries. They are occasions to bring people together, to foster community, and to encouragement teamwork.
Some institutions provide gifts, especially for work anniversaries. One technique is to provide a catalog of gifts and equate the price range with the number of years of employment, with more expensive gifts for longer service.
While events to express appreciation and build community are fun and effective, they are not the only forms of expression. The campus president, vice presidents, deans, and department heads can send notes of congratulation and condolence to faculty and staff to mark life’s milestones. A phone call can be welcome, too.
Employee appreciation events are effective ways to say “thanks” to the people who make the campus a community. They have instrumental benefits, of course, but more importantly they express a philosophy, the idea that everyone on campus contributes to its success and excellence is not only expected, but found in every corner.
