B19 : Trustee Recognition

B19: Trustee Recognition Policy

Responsibility for Maintenance: President’s Office; Board of Trustees

Date of most recent changes: June 17, 2024

I. Policy Statement

Onondaga Community College annually recognizes the meritorious contributions and achievements of students, alumni, community leaders, college benefactors, faculty, staff, and administrators through presentation of the following awards:

• Honorary Degrees
• John H. Mulroy Founders Awards – one each in the following categories:
  • Alumni
  • Benefactor/leadership
  • Retired faculty/staff
• Ralph R. Whitney, Jr. Award – faculty
• Trustee Awards – one each in the following categories:
  • Trustee Award – faculty
  • Trustee Award – administrator
  • Trustee Award – staff
  • Trustee Award – team
  • Trustee Award – student
• Distinguished Retiree
• Faculty Emeritus

II. Reason for Policy

This policy is designed to clarify the process by which Trustee recognitions are awarded and the privileges associated with each.

III. Applicability of the Policy

This policy applies to all individuals who may be eligible to receive these awards.

IV. Related Documents

None

V. Contacts  

VI. Definitions 

VII. Eligibility & Criteria

Honorary Degrees

Eligibility: College stakeholders may be considered for nomination (no current employees, current students, and public/elected officials who currently hold office are eligible).

Criteria:

To be considered for an award, the nominee must have:

• Demonstrated an enduring, long-term commitment of extraordinary service to the College and its students, the Central New York community, State of New York, and/or the United States that stands as an example of selfless dedication to the higher purpose and ideals to which the College aspires;
• Made an extraordinary contribution, such as a milestone philanthropic gift; the development of an innovative initiative, program or service in direct support of the long-term health and wellbeing of the College, its students, the community, State of New York, or the United States; and/or
• Served as an example of the College’s aspirations for its students through life-time philanthropic, service, or professional achievement.

Recipients will receive a commemorative diploma, hood, and resolution of the Board.

John H. Mulroy Founder’s Award

Eligibility: Volunteers, community members, business leaders, retired elected officials, donors, trustees, directors of affiliate corporations, and retired employees are eligible for the award. A group or entity, such as a community-based organization, a corporation or an educational institution, may also be considered.

Criteria:

To be considered for an award, the nominee must have:

• Demonstrated exemplary service to the College and its students that stands as an example of selfless dedication to the higher purpose and ideals to which the College aspires;
• Made a significant, praiseworthy contribution, such as a major philanthropic donation; the development of an innovative initiative, program or service in direct support of institutional priorities; enhancement of an existing academic or co-curricular program that resulted in significant organizational advancement in fulfilling its mission, etc.;
• Demonstrated service-oriented leadership that has advanced the College’s mission and goals and that serves as a model for others to follow.

Recipients will receive a resolution of the Board.

Ralph R. Whitney, Jr. Award

Eligibility: Any faculty member who meets the award criteria may be considered.

Criteria: The recipient will be selected based on his/her accomplishments in the current academic year, including demonstrated evidence of extraordinary support of student success, service to the campus community, and pursuit of academic excellence.

All recipients will receive a resolution of the Board. In addition, the Whitney Award recipient is provided the opportunity to designate a scholarship funded through the OCC Foundation to a student identified by the recipient.

Trustee Awards – Faculty, Administrator, Staff, Team

Eligibility: Any member of the faculty, administration, staff, or student body may be considered for a Trustee Award. Any campus team or committee may be considered for the Team award. Any member of the campus community may submit nominations, and self-nominations are also acceptable.

Criteria:

• Recipients will be selected on the basis of accomplishments in the current academic year. Awards will be granted for special initiatives that contribute to high quality academic programs; student recruitment, retention and success; and initiatives that benefit students and the community.
• Examples of such initiatives include, but are not limited to, curricular and/or pedagogical improvements, documented improvements in efficiency and/or service to students, successful receipt of grants, development of or active participation in special curricular or co-curricular programming and activities, receipt of commissions and awards, leadership in professional organizations, and publications, exhibits, etcetera.

Trustee Awards – Student

Eligibility: Any student who has completed at least 15 credits at Onondaga Community College is eligible for consideration. Any member of the faculty, administration, staff and student body may submit nominations (self-nominations are also acceptable).

 Criteria:

To be considered for an award, the student must meet the minimum eligibility requirements and have exemplified the College’s mission and vision through:

• Extraordinary academic achievement, as demonstrated by consistent academic excellence and/or by a specific project or scholarly endeavor; and/or
• A significant, praiseworthy contribution to a student, campus, or community initiative, or remarkable volunteer service in support of the campus and Central New York community; and/or
• Demonstrated service-oriented leadership that has improved the opportunities available to other students to and their lives as students at Onondaga.

Distinguished Retiree

Eligibility:  Administrators and staff who meet the minimum eligibility requirements listed below and the award criteria may be considered for the award.

• Fifteen (15) years of continuous permanent (full-time) service to the College, as verified by the Human Resources Department;
• Retire according to College policy and in good standing;
• Distinguished service to the College, as described in the evaluation criteria below;
• Note: Individuals may self-nominate.

Criteria:  To be considered for an award, the nominee must meet the minimum eligibility requirements and have demonstrated distinguished service to the College over the course of the nominee’s tenure by demonstrating:

• Consistent excellence in professional achievement, or service to the campus community;

• Contributions above and beyond those expected of the position held, e.g., extraordinary service to the campus and/or the community, leadership, fund-raising, or professional achievement;

Recipients will be recognized at a meeting of the Board of Trustees and will receive a signed copy of the Resolution approved by the Board.

Faculty Emeritus

Eligibility:  Faculty who have served the College for at least seven (7) years and consistently demonstrated extraordinary service to the College and the community are eligible.

Criteria:  To be considered for an award, the nominee must meet the minimum eligibility requirements and have demonstrated distinguished service to the College over the course of the nominee’s tenure by:

• Consistent excellence in teaching, professional achievement, and/or service to the campus community

• Contributions above and beyond those expected of the position held, e.g., extraordinary service to the campus and/or the community, leadership, fund-raising, or professional achievement.

Recipients will be recognized at a meeting of the Board of Trustees and will receive a signed copy of the Resolution approved by the Board. Names of recipients will also be posted on the College's webpage and listed in the commencement program for the year of their retirement. 

 VII. Procedures

Honorary Degrees, John H. Mulroy Founder’s Awards and Trustee Awards

After the scheduled January Board of Trustees meetings, an email will be sent to the campus community soliciting nominations for Honorary Degrees, John H. Mulroy Founder’s Awards and Trustee Awards. Those nominations are due to the President’s Office by the end of February and can be emailed to the office at hartj@sunyocc.edu or completed using an online form:

https://www.sunyocc.edu/form/trustee-award-nomination-form

The nominations are reviewed by the President and presented to the Trustees for their approval at the March board meeting. Winners are notified by email/USPS mail. Honorary Degree recipients will receive their recognition at the Commencement ceremony in May; John H. Mulroy Founder’s Award winners are recognized at the May board meeting; and Trustee award winners will be recognized at the Employee Appreciation Ceremony in May.

Distinguished Retiree and Faculty Emeritus

Any retiree who submits their intent to retire to Human Resources by April 1 and meets the criteria mentioned previously is eligible.

Nominations for Faculty Emeritus are submitted to the Faculty Senate, as per established guidelines, and are forwarded to the President who will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for consideration.  Nominations for Distinguished Retiree are reviewed by the Administrator’s Council Steering Committee (OCCAC) and the Staff Association Executive Committee, and their recommendations are forwarded to the President who will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Approved by OCC Board of Trustees June 28, 2022

Updated and approved by the President June 17, 2024