Excellence in Service Award
Since January 2019, the Administration and Finance Division has instituted a new program, the Excellence in Service Award, to recognize our outstanding employees.
About the Excellence in Service Award
As part of the Administration and Finance Division's strategic focus on improving team building and morale, a new initiative to recognize outstanding employees - The Administration and Finance Excellence in Service Awards.
These awards, open to any employee in our division, provide a way for members of our community to formally recognize employees in our division whose contributions to the campus embody our commitment to excellence. More details can be found below.
Award Winners
2019 Recipients
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Excellence in Classified Service - Darlene Senecal
Darlene Senecal
What was your reaction when you heard you were being awarded your award? How did you feel?
Excited and nervous. Nervous I would have to say something when I received the award.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
It felt good to be acknowledged for the work that I do. A lot of us in the Janitorial dept deserve a ‘clap’ too.
What is your job?
I do general cleaning, dusting, floor cleaning and waxing, bathrooms, window washing, light bulb replacement, trash removal, and sometimes water office plants dying.
What is a typical day at your job like?
Before people come into the building in mass, I clean the classrooms and offices first, and then the public areas, then areas seldom cleaned often.
What makes you excel at your job duties?
I have pride in my work. People come tell her thanks for all she does for their area and the building.
Have you set any goals for 2019-2020 that you would like to achieve?
Started to take some computer basic classes like “Excel” offered on the campus.
What does “Excellence in Service” mean to you?
I have done my job properly. I am doing a good job and am acknowledged for it.
What is your proudest moment working here?
Friendships I have made working here. Some of us raise money during Halloween by dressing up in costume and going to certain buildings and raising money for at first UNICEF, but now it is for the local Christmas Bureau. I really love doing this type of thing.
What is your favorite thing about working at SUNY Plattsburgh?
Where I work now everyone communicates well and gets along.
What activities do you enjoy when not at work?
I enjoy participating in benefits to help others in need.
What words of advice would you give to a new employee joining our division?
Be open to change, which is often, and be open minded to learn new ways to do the same work. Sometimes you learn an easier more efficient way to do something.
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Excellence in Unclassified Service - Anika Fullum
Anika Fullum
What was your reaction when you heard you were being awarded your award? How did you feel?
I felt very surprised and humbled.
What does receiving this award mean to you?
It is nice to be in a place where you can be recognized by your colleagues and that leadership takes notice.
What is your job?
I do three main jobs: compliance officer for Neurobehavioral Health, Privacy Officer for HIPPA, and am a resource to the campus for legal and compliance issues. I also oversee changes for the campus handbook and oversee the compliance training.
What is one major misconception people have about your job?
That we have all the answers.
What makes you excel at your job duties?
I take it upon myself to improve my technology skills. I am curious and want to do things better and am open to have someone show me a better way.
Have you set any goals for 2019-2020 that you would like to achieve?
I am on my division’s Communication committee and as of July 1st we launched the new A&F website after a year of working on it. The goal is to improve the website so our division can do more with less.
What does “Excellence in Service” mean to you?
Look for opportunities to improve and recognize that everyone has a different objective and perception to get there. Do it with respect and civility for it makes the process easier.
What is your proudest moment working here?
The first day when Sean Dermody, my supervisor offered me a job at the college.
What is your favorite thing about working at SUNY Plattsburgh?
There is a culture of respect and acknowledgment that exists here and does not in other workplaces. The “norm” is to acknowledge people’s accomplishments.
What activities do you enjoy when not at work?
Working at the barn with horses and helping my daughter learn to ride her horse better.
What words of advice would you give to a new employee joining our division?
Ask many questions about what your responsibilities are, for it may lead to a better working experience. Attend as many campus student and department functions so you can continue to build relationships and not lose sight of the mission of the college. Go to Hawkins hall pond and have lunch a few times a semester because it is beautiful.
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Excellence Service Team Award - Grounds Department
Grounds Department
What was your reaction when you heard you were being awarded your award? How did you feel?
The team did not believe it. They were shocked to hear they won this award. Some feel “its about time, we deserve it.”
What does receiving this award mean to you?
It means a lot to have this award after many years working in this department.
What is your job?
The team takes care of the grounds, landscaping, mowing, pruning, weed removal, caring for the athletic fields so they are set-up and groomed ready to use. This year they had no student employees, so the work is more difficult to accomplish with less people. They also perform all the snow and ice removal before it becomes dangerous for pedestrians and vehicles during the winter.
What is a typical day at your job like?
Now the team is busy with courtyard creations, trash removal outside, cleaning up after events outside, weed trimming, weed removal, grass mowing, mulching, pruning of trees and bushes, cutting down dead trees, do the ground work for masonry work or sidewalks being created.
What is one major misconception people have about your job?
The work is a lot more than just mowing the grass and weed trimming. You have to know how to use an assortment of grounds equipment too.
What makes you excel at your job duties?
The campus grounds is what everyone sees first, even people driving down the road. It is very important the grounds look nice all the time.
Have you set any goals for 2019-2020 that you would like to achieve?
Getting the striping of parking lots done by fall 2019 is one goal.
What does “Excellence in Service” mean to you?
We strive to do our best with the limited people and money given. We want to do a great job.
What activities do you enjoy when not at work?
Some of us hunt, have camps, build Adirondack furniture, and some of us work a second job after working on campus.
What words of advice would you give to a new employee joining our division?
Be kind to one another regardless of the work you do.
About the Award
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What are the Awards?
There are three distinct Excellence in Service Awards:
- Administration and Finance Excellence in Classified Service Award
- Administration and Finance Excellence in Unclassified Service Award
- Administration and Finance Excellence in Service Team Award
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How Frequently Will the Awards Be Given?
Each of the three Service Awards will be awarded annually.
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What Is the Criteria for Receiving the Awards?
These three annual awards recognize members of the Administration and Finance (A&F) Division and College Auxiliary Services (CAS) who provide outstanding contributions to the campus community and through such service, most clearly embody the seven strategic values of the Administration and Finance Division and our commitment to institutional service. These values include:
- Strategic: We perform our responsibilities with vision, planning, and intention.
- Ethical: We are truthful and fair, and believe in being responsible for our actions.
- Respectful: We treat our students and staff with dignity, encouraging their growth and recognizing their success
- Versatile: We are an experienced team well-equipped to address the needs of today and tomorrow.
- Inclusive: We embrace the diverse background and beliefs of our campus community, valuing their unique perspectives and experiences.
- Collaborative: We seek to build consensus, not conflict, through our words and actions.
- Excellence: We reject complacency and strive to exceed the expectations of our campus community.
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Why Are We Doing This?
Because there are many people in our division who exhibit excellence and deserve to be recognized for their efforts.
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Who Is Eligible to Receive the Awards?
In order to be eligible for an award, the individual must be an employee in the Administration and Finance Division or College Auxiliary Services.
- Administration and Finance Excellence in Classified SERVICE Award: Eligible Employees: CSEA Employees, CAS Employees in administrative or operational support roles.
- Administration and Finance Excellence in Unclassified SERVICE Award: Eligible Employees: UUP, PEF, M/C and Other CAS Employees
- Administration and Finance Excellence in SERVICE Team Award: Eligible Employees: Any team of A&F or CAS Employees
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Who Can Nominate an Employee? How Do I Nominate Someone?
Any SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff, or student may nominate an A&F member or team of A&F members.
The nomination process is easy. Simply completing the nomination form and explain why you think an employee has the commitment to excellence and our values and submit it by the deadline. The nomination form can be completed on paper or using a Google form (See below).
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What Is the Deadline for Nominations?The deadline for nominations for the 2019 Service Award has passed. Stay tuned for more information on the deadline for the 2020 Service Award.
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Why Should I Nominate Someone?Because we hope that you, too, want to recognize your colleagues who deserve recognition for their outstanding efforts.
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Who Reviews the Nomination?A selection committee will review the applications and submit recommendations to the Administration and Finance Leadership Team, which will then select the final recipient for each award annually.
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When and How Will Recipients Be Announced?Recipients will be announced at the Administration and Finance Summer Retreat. Recipients will receive a framed certificate, will be added to a plaque posted on the 9th Floor of Kehoe, and featured on the administration and finance website.
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How Is This Different From Cardinals Care or the Chancellor's Award for Excellence?
This award is distinct and different than either Cardinals Care or the Chancellor's Award. Cardinals Care is open to anyone across campus and is designed to recognize those who make a positive difference or go the extra mile to encourage greater civility - it is not necessarily focused on recognizing excellence or alignment with our strategic values.
The Chancellor's Award is an annual award that is open to the entire campus and typically only selects one individual. While effectiveness and contributions are part of that consideration, it is not focused on our specific values and is far more formalized.
In short, the Service Awards are a way for us to recognize excellence in our division.
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Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions?
Please contact Sean Dermody, Assistant VP for Administration and Finance, and chair of the Morale and Team Building Committee at 518-564-2539 for any questions you may have.
- Award Forms