Guidelines for APAS Members

4.7: [APAS] Distinguished Service Program:

A) Selection of Recipients: Each year, up to twelve (12) full-time members and two (2) part-time members of the bargaining unit shall be granted a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of outstanding performance of their duties. The recipients shall be selected by a three (3) member Distinguished Service Committee, which shall be chaired by the Chief Human Resources Officer or his/her designee, with one member designated by the President of YSU-APAS, and the third member designated by the first two members.

B) Full-time Bargaining Unit Member Eligibility: Full-time Bargaining unit members must have three (3) twelve-month, full-time years of University service by March I of the selection year. A complete year of service will be credited provided the individual serves a minimum of three fourths (3/4's) of the twelve-month, full-time contract year, exclusive of extended sick leave and leave without pay. Criteria for award eligibility, as well as the scoring rubric used to determine the award recipients, are delineated in Appendix M to this Agreement.

C) Part-time Bargaining Unit Member Eligibility: Part-time bargaining members must have completed the equivalent of three (3) twelve-month, full-time years of University service within the bargaining unit by March I of the selection year (i.e., .50 FTE bargaining unit members would be eligible after six (6) years of service). A year of service will be credited provided the individual serves a minimum of three-fourths (3/4's) of the twelve-month, full-time contract year, exclusive of extended sick leave and leave without pay. For example, if an employee worked nine (9) months each year at .75 FTE for five years, he/she would receive .75 x 5 = 3.75-years of credit.

D) Nominations: Candidates for the Distinguished Service Award may be nominated by a YSU student, a YSU employee, the employee's supervisor, or a YSU alumna. However, an employee may not nominate themselves or members of their immediate family (as defined in Article 7.1C). Such nominations shall be made on an electronic form created by and available in the Office of Human Resources and submitted electronically. Written justification for the nomination must be attached to the form. Distinguished Service Award Committee chairs are permitted to seek written input from the supervisor of all persons nominated for an award. Nominations shall be opened on December 1 and close on January 31.

E) Allocation of Award: Full-time recipients of the Distinguished Service Award shall receive $2000; a stipend of $1000 and $1000 added to their individual base salary in the next contract year. However, a full-time employee who is already at or in excess of the maximum rate of pay for their pay grade shall receive a full stipend of $2000 and no additional money will be added to their base salary in the next contract year. A full-time employee who is almost at the maximum will be increased to the maximum in the next contract year. However, the remainder of the $1000 will also be treated as a stipend. A part-time recipient shall receive a stipend of $1000. A full-time bargaining unit member retiring before July I of the next contract year shall receive a full stipend of $2000. 

F) Announcement of Award: The President of the University shall make an appropriate public announcement about the awards each year.

G) Frequency of Award: Awards shall not be given more than twice in any five (5) consecutive year period to the same employee.