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.)!
Please note: Kaizens and Lean Processes are not eligible for the I.O.W.A.
Writing the Nomination
The I.O.W.A. Review Committee looks for these components in the nomination: Initiative, Innovation, Measurable, Demonstrable Results, and Sustaining Impact. The nomination must include at least three of the four components to be considered for the I.O.W.A.
Improving Our Workplace Award Details
To recognize individuals and teams whose efforts demonstrate three of the following four components: Initiative, Innovation, Measurable results, Sustaining impact.
Individuals and teams can be nominated at these levels of impact:
- Unit
- Department
- Interdepartmental
- Campus
Nominated effort should show lasting positive results in at least one of these areas: (listed in alphabetical order)
- Community building and collaboration
- Cost-saving
- Customer satisfaction (students, clients, patients, employees, taxpayer, and parents)
- Development, preservation, or dissemination of knowledge
- Enhancing the student or patient experience
- Healthy working relationships and a supportive environment
- Outreach to community and state
- Process improvement
- Project development (results not presently known)
- Safety
- Staff development through mentoring
- Stewardship of University resources
- Nominations may be written by yourself, a co-worker or supervisor - a supervisor or team sponsor signature is necessary.
- Review committee evaluates the nominations for suitability for the I.O.W.A. 1-2 weeks after nomination submissions.
Send your nomination form to oe-leader@uiowa.edu by 11:59pm the evening of November 1st or February 15th.
- Certificates for awardees are sent to supervisors for presentation in their areas.
- Annual reception is held in spring for both fall and spring awardees, supervisors and nominators. University leaders present I.O.W.A. lapel pins and publicly recognize the significant contributions of the I.O.W.A. awardees.
The Improving Our Workplace Award is a partnership of Organizational Effectiveness and Staff Council.