Governor's Service Commendation Award

We are pleased to sponsor a statewide recognition program focused on quarterly customer service activities.

Throughout the year, the Governor will recognize employees and teams representing the best of Georgia public service in the categories of customer service, volunteerism and heroism.

The Governor's Commendation recognizes meritorious actions that enhance the public image of customer service or improve the way customer service is provided in Georgia.

Employees may be nominated for recognition by peers, leadership or customers for acts of outstanding customer service.

Recipients will receive a certificate of commendation signed by the Governor and take a photo with the Governor.

Eligibility

All nominees must be full-time employees the University System of Georgia. Nominees will be selected on the basis of consistent high levels of performance and/or going above and beyond the call of duty in the performance of their jobs while still accomplishing their normal job responsibilities. To be eligible for an award or commendation the nominee cannot be under any disciplinary action.

Nomination Information

The selection committee reserves the right to assign any nomination to a different recognition category if deemed more appropriate. Recipient of the Governor's Commendation is eligible for the Annual Recognition Award.

Criteria for Commendation Categories

Customer Service

• Show how the nominee demonstrates our customer service commitments: courteous, helpful, accessible, responsive and knowledgeable. (Behavioral standards can be found in the State Personnel Administration e-performance guidelines).
• Demonstrate the customers' need, what was done to address that need and the positive results of services provided. Document improved service times, improved quality of service, increased accessibility for customers and significant positive impact on Georgia's customers.
• Provide a basis for comparison using simple measurements or statistics from before and after service improvements were made.

Volunteerism

• Show how the nominee exhibits "a servant's heart" by volunteering to improve the quality of life for members of the community.
• Demonstrate how individual initiatives or work with community institutions like local charities, shelters, missions, food banks or environmental agencies to improve our state and the lives of our citizens.
• Provide evidence of the actions of individual or team nominees that produced significant, demonstrable results through volunteer work outside of their duties as state employees.

Heroism

• Show how the individual or team members demonstrated outstanding judgment, courage or ability in an emergency, meritorious action or service.
• Demonstrate how nominees' actions saved lives, prevented injury or preserved others' property.
• Provide evidence of unusual courage, extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in their actions.

Tips For Successful Nominations

• Establish a history of good performance on the part of the nominee. Include a record of outstanding performance, such as high scores on customer comment cards or letters from customers and peers about fast, friendly and easy customer service.
• Nominations should be 3 pages maximum including support materials
• Provide a basis for comparison. For example, if referring to a high number of cases resolved, contrast this with the average number resolved in the same period of time.
• Show how the individual or team performed outside of their normal duties. Make it clear to reviewers who are not familiar with the nominee's job duties that the nominee is doing more than simply "a good job of doing their job." For example, show how this employee consistently works beyond expected hours to support peers and clients, or how this team volunteered to make improvements in the way their customers were served.
• Document improved service times, improved quality of service, increased accessibility for customers and the significance of the positive impact on Georgia's customers. Include baseline and improvement measurements that demonstrate concrete results from the improvement.
• Other helpful items include endorsements from leaders, other Champions and/or customers that share specific actions taken and how these actions benefited employees and/or customers. Include key performance indicators (KPIs), performance standards or survey results showing high performance and/or improvement over specific periods of time.

Please direct any questions about the recognition program to: usg-recognitions@usg.edu