University of California, Berkeley

Staff Appreciation Week: Acknowledging Our Top Talent

As we end a week of recognizing the contributions of staff, it is fitting that we draw particular attention to those who have made special contributions this year. Managers across the campus are finalizing this year's Achievement Award recipients. These are individuals who will receive a cash bonus for an exemplary contribution reflective of a high performing culture.

There are two other ways we formally recognize our top talent each year. One is through the Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Awards and the other is through the Berkeley Staff Assembly's Excellence in Management Awards.

These awards and their recipients are described in the links below. Perhaps this quote from a past winner best summarizes the feeling of having one's work formally acknowledged by the University:

"How did [the COSA] change my life? Well, it made me realize that people really noticed my work . . . Many people work all their lives without a purpose. I have chosen to make a difference in every task I perform - no matter how insignificant it may appear."

  1. Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Awards (COSAs):

    The COSAs are among the highest honors bestowed upon staff by the Chancellor. The COSAs are presented to individuals and teams who, in addition to performing all their normal job duties with excellence, demonstrated unparalleled initiative in contributing to the Berkeley campus community. To see a full list of 2013 recipients and their achievements, please see the COSA website.

  2. Excellence in Management Awards (EIMs):

    The Excellence in Management Awards (or EIMs) are now in their 25th year and provide an opportunity for career employees to acknowledge the exemplary contributions of their managers or supervisors. The award is open to all levels of employees who have management or supervisory experience for at least one year in their current positions.

    This year's EIM theme, "Agents of Change," recognized supervisors or managers who are addressing the needs of their units and individual employees to successfully navigate impending changes in their workplace.

    These EIM awards were presented at a ceremony on May 28th by Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Jeannine Raymond. Here is a list of recipients for 2012-2013  (PDF).