Human Resources and TIAA-CREF announced a new program Monday that will distribute a total of $10,000 per year to employees in recognition of special or unique contributions to the university.

TIAA-CREF is donating $30,000 to fund the Pride of the Wolfpack Awards for the next three years. NC State is just the second university in the nation to participate in this program.

"NC State has a national reputation as one of the best universities in the country, and what makes it such a great place are the people," said Pirie McIndoe, TIAA-CREF representative. "…That's why we're glad to sponsor an award to recognize so many of those people."

NC State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said the awards program provides a great opportunity to do something positive for employees in the midst of tough budget times.

"When you have such a very small pool of ways in which we can respond financially to reward those who work so hard every day, this kind of partnership with the private sector is wonderful," Fox said. "…We clearly understand how valuable our employees are to this university, and we are doing everything we can to help them."

Beginning Jan. 1, each campus unit will be allotted a certain amount from the fund, based on the percentage of university employees in that unit. Each unit will then distribute the awards in the form of $20 gift certificates to one of the following area establishments: Lowes, Harris-Teeter, Crabtree Valley Mall, Target or Best Buy.

Dianne Sortini, director of employee relations and training services, said the most appealing part of the awards program is that each campus unit will come up with its own criteria for giving the award.

"One of the significant benefits of this program - and something that we are really thrilled about - is that every college and division on this campus is going to be able to design their own program, based on whatever criteria they feel are important in recognizing the contributions of employees in their particular area," she said.

Among some examples listed as possible award criteria: leadership on the job, customer focus, business results, quality of service, cost effectiveness, delivery of service to students, staff and/or alumni, and quantity and quality of work over a period of time.

Each unit will designate a representative to coordinate its awards. Nominations for the awards will then be submitted to that representative. All employees, including temporaries, are allowed to make nominations, and all SPA and EPA employees are eligible to receive the awards.

"I'd like for you to think of the Pride of the Wolfpack Award as a pat on the back," said Charlene Hayes, associate vice-chancellor for Human Resources. "This is not for doing something huge … just the things that employees do to make a difference on an everyday basis."

Posted October 21, 2002

Return to the Bulletin homepage