Employee Recognition

Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards

Teaching Excellence Award (Tenured, Tenure-Track), Teaching Excellence Award (Non-Tenure Track), Scholar Excellence Award, Early Career Faculty Excellence Award, Women of Distinction Award, Emerging Leader Award, Staff Excellence Award (Administrative Professional and/or Civil Service Employees) x 2; guidlines need tidied up to be more concise and make nominations easier.

Contact: Sarah VanVooren (svanvoo@siu.edu)

Lindell W. Sturgis Award

For public service and contributions a current SIU Carbondale employee to the community, area, state, or nation

Contact: Sarah VanVooren (svanvoo@siu.edu)

Honorary Degree

An Honorary Degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is reserved for individuals who have made outstanding scholarly contributions or are of considerable renown in any field of activity. Beyond scholarship, the degree may also recognize those whose unique accomplishments have advanced human well-being or brought significant benefit to society.

Contact: Sarah VanVooren (svanvoo@siu.edu)

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to Southern Illinois, the state, the nation, the world, and/or to the University. University employees are not eligible for consideration during the year of their retirement; however, exceptionally qualified employees may be considered either before or after their retirement year.

Contact: Sarah VanVooren (svanvoo@siu.edu)

Retirement and Service Recognition Awards

Recognizes retirees/years of service

Contact: Sarah VanVooren (svanvoo@siu.edu)

Department of Public Safety Awards

The Department of Public Safety honors officers and staff each year for their exceptional service to the university community. Awards may be given to sworn and non-sworn employees, university staff, and community members. Categories include Excellent Service, Community Service, Lifesaving, Meritorious Service, and the Director’s Award.

Officers, staff, family, friends, and members of the cabinet gather to recognize the dedication and contributions of this department to the safety and well-being of the university community.

Contact: Stacy Stearns (stacy.stearns@siu.edu)

SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards

The SIU System Distinguished Student Service Awards honor students whose service exemplifies excellence and an exceptional commitment to supporting, advancing, and enriching the lives of fellow students, their campus, and their community.

Each year, one undergraduate and one graduate student from both SIU Carbondale and SIU Edwardsville, along with representatives from the SIU Simmons Law School, SIU School of Medicine, SIU School of Dental Medicine, and the SIU School of Pharmacy, are recognized.

Student Affairs Awards

Recognition of Student Affairs employees

Contact: Dr. Tena Bennett (studentaffairs@siu.edu)

Green Fund Grant Ceremony Awards

The Green Fund supports projects that advance sustainability across SIU Carbondale’s campus. Guided by the Sustainability Council’s operating papers, funded projects are expected to align with the university’s Climate Commitment, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), and broader goals in areas such as energy, water, waste, buildings, transportation, food and dining, purchasing, social equity, and education.

Next Award Ceremony: April 22, 2026 - 3:00-4:30 pm, Guyon Auditorium

Contact: sustainability@siu.edu

Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Awards

The Sustainability Environmental Ambassador Award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to environmental initiatives at SIU. Sponsored by the Sustainability Council and awarded by the Chancellor, this honor is presented annually at the SIU Sustainability Celebration in April.

Students who complete a minimum of 30 hours of environmentally related service within an academic year are eligible.

Next Award Ceremony: April 22, 2026 - 3:00-4:30 pm, Guyon Auditorium

Contact: sustainability@siu.edu

Student Health Services Employee Recognition Program

Student Health Services honors staff who embody the five pillars of SIU’s Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan: student success and engagement, diversity and inclusion, branding and partnerships, research and innovation, and sustainability. Employees are nominated each term by peers, with one selected annually as Employee of the Year.

Simmons Law School Outstanding Teaching Support Award

Recognizes full-time staff members who provide exceptional support for teaching at the Simmons Law School.

Nominations close: March 15.

Simmons Law School Outstanding Scholar Award

Honors full-time law school faculty who have demonstrated outstanding scholarly contributions.

Nominations close: March 15.

Simmons Law School Outstanding Teacher Award

Presented to full-time law school faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching.

Nominations close: March 15.

For more information about these awards, contact info@business.siu.edu.

COBA Outstanding Graduate Teacher Award

Recognizes tenure-track faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching graduate courses within the College of Business and Analytics.

Nominations are due in February and awarded at the annual spring event.

COBA Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award

Presented to faculty members with at least three years of service in COBA who have achieved significant research contributions.

 Nominations are due in February and awarded at the annual spring event.

COBA Outstanding Service Contributor Award

Honors COBA staff members who provide exceptional service and support to the college community.

Nominations are due in February and awarded at the annual spring event.

COBA Outstanding Term Faculty Award

Recognizes non-tenure track faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching, research, or service within the college.

Nominations are due in February and awarded at the annual spring event.

COBA Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award

Presented to tenure-track faculty who demonstrate outstanding teaching effectiveness at the undergraduate level.

Nominations are due in February and awarded at the annual spring event.

For more information about these awards, contact chhs@siu.edu.

Supporting Promising Researchers: Grant Mentorship Initiative

The purpose of the SuPR GMI is to provide quality and targeted mentorship to CHHS faculty researchers striving to build a record of extramural funding to support research in their area(s) of expertise to increase their competitiveness for external funding. Eligible faculty include Tenured/Tenure-Track Professors with at least a 50% appointment in CHHS.

Elena M. Sliepcevich Faculty and Drolet / Townsend Student Research Awards

The purpose of these 2 awards is to support faculty research on a health-related topic and student engagement in that research as mentee. CHHS T/TT faculty are eligible and receive 1 month of summer salary and support for a student to participate.

Marlene Rotbart Matten Excellence in Health Research Award

The award supports health-related research. The recipient must be a female student who is enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral program with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

CHHS Empowering Futures: Female Faculty-Student Research Partnership & Mentorship for Success in Health and Human Sciences

These funds support a mentorship initiative involving one/more CHHS female faculty scholar(s) and a female graduate/undergraduate student(s) during May 16, 2025-May 15, 2026. Funds support $1500 in costs of a research project (e.g. software, equipment, travel, participant survey incentives, research training). The goal is to further the professional career of a CHHS Female Tenured or Tenure Track (T/TT) faculty member alongside providing an opportunity for female students to develop applied research skills and be mentored by a female faculty member.