Diversity Catalyst Awards
For over twenty years, the Diversity Catalyst Awards honor faculty, staff, students, programs, departments, and student organizations who have engaged in D.E.I. initiatives during the previous academic year, promoting the development of an inclusive and diverse campus community.
Mental Health Champion Awards
The Mental Health Champion award is designed to cultivate an environment that values and recognizes mental health and the importance it holds in the well-being of each of our lives and for assisting the University of Iowa in meeting its strategic goal of being a health-promoting campus.
Improving Our Workplace Award
Is there someone who is making a positive difference in the results your workplace is achieving? Nominate them for the Improving Our Workplace Award (I.O.W.A.)! The I.O.W.A. recognizes individuals and teams who have made a difference while demonstrating initiative, innovation, lasting impact and measurable results.
Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award
Established in 2015, the Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award honors members of the armed forces who have demonstrated exceptional service to the United States, their communities, and our university. Recipients of the Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Award have demonstrated these upstanding qualities: A strong University of Iowa connection, honorable service to our country, military accomplishment or contributions, and service to the community.
Additional Award Opportunities
UI Faculty
The University of Iowa is proud to recognize the achievements of our exceptional faculty. Learn more about other honors awarded by the Office of the Provost, Council on Teaching, Division of Student Life, Faculty Senate, Office of the Vice President for Research, and the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.
UI Health Care
UI Health Care is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that nurtures excellence. In doing so, UI Health Care Human Resources offers many opportunities to recognize individuals, develop careers, and celebrate achievements.
Office of the Vice President for Research
"It is an honor to celebrate our faculty, staff, postdocs, and students who are conducting high-impact research and scholarship. Through this awards program, we also recognize the important work of translating research and scholarship for various public audiences, advancing research safety, administering research programs, and mentoring the next generation of researchers, scholars, and artists." - Marty Scholtz, Vice President for Research
Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women
The Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women committee is an inclusive, cross-campus team that celebrates and supports exceptional female leaders at IOWA. We amplify their collective voices at an annual event that spotlights female student scholarship winners as well as female faculty and staff doing inspirational work.
UI Staff Council
The University of Iowa Staff Council is an elected body that represents approximately 7,500 non-bargaining professional and scientific staff. Founded in 1967, it is the council’s mission to represent and advocate for all staff at the university.
University Human Resources
The Human Resources Leadership awards are part of an ongoing effort to develop, promote and advance HR leadership at the University of Iowa. The annual awards will recognize HR leaders across campus who function as strategic business partners, demonstrate key HR leadership competencies, and serve as role models for other HR professionals.
Monetary Compensation & Awards
Flexible Pay shall be awarded for extra-meritorious performance that may include rewarding a variety of outcomes and behaviors e.g., project completion, sustained high level performance and revenue generation, etc. There are two types of Flexible Pay: (1) Exceptional Performance Awards, and (2) Spot Performance Awards. Flexible Pay should not be used as a substitute for providing ongoing base adjustments that assure equitable and competitive salaries.
Pay for exceptional performance is governed by the Merit rules established by the Iowa Board of Regents. Learn more Here.
Learning & Development provides limited professional development awards for its for-fee workshops during the spring and fall semesters. Staff members with a regular appointment 50% time or greater receive an email twice a year (July and December) inviting them to apply for an award. Awards are made by random selection among all those who select a workshop they would like to attend. The award allows recipients to attend the workshop at no cost. For Fee Workshops range in cost from $25 to $350.
The Mary Jo Small Staff Fellowship is an award that University of Iowa staff members may use to help defray costs associated with regional, national, or international meetings or workshops, as well as a variety of other non-academic professional development opportunities on and off-campus.
The Tuition Assistance program allows eligible faculty and staff to apply for financial assistance to help defray the cost of tuition (excluding other fees) for one college credit course (up to four semester hours). This online application process is available via the Employee Self Service site. Located under My Career - Learning & Development - Tuition Assistance Application, eligible applicants complete and send the application through the Workflow System for approval and processing.
Tuition Assistance Program Information
If you are employed by UI Health Care, and not eligible for the UI tuition program, please visit the UI Health Care Tuition Reimbursement Program website for details and contact information regarding that program.
The Staff Appreciation Grant program is an opportunity for groups seeking funding for appreciation and recognition efforts in their specific area (not intended for campus-wide or shared governance event, apply for UISC funds for these purposes). Departments may request one Staff Appreciation Grant per fiscal year and may request $10 per staff member up to $300 total. This grant is awarded on a first qualified, first served basis and funding is limited.
The University of Iowa actively supports and promotes a culture of health and well-being for all campus community members. By providing grant funds directly to departments for activities that promote physical and emotional health and well-being, liveWELL aims to make practicing healthy habits in the workplace easier, which in turn supports a culture of health on campus.
If your organization or department has a campus award or celebration not listed above, please email oe-leader@uiowa.edu.