The StudentsFirst Rewards and Recognition Program for all staff employees was recently announced by President Papadakis. The program offers incentives for extraordinary service related to the StudentsFirst F-I-R-S-T Principles: F - First impressions count I - It starts with me R - Recognize, respect, respond S - Succeed through service T - Take time to communicate StudentsFirst Rewards and Recognition includes three components: the “Applause,” “Drexel Salutes” and President’s Award programs. The Applause program promotes frequent expressions of thanks among colleagues and between supervisors and staff, and provides opportunities for students to express thanks to University employees by sending Applause e-cards via the StudentsFirst Web site. No approvals are necessary and recognition under the program will typically be for a one-time act. The system which generates the Applause e-card also notifies Human Resources that recognition has been given. A record of the event will be placed in the employee’s personnel file and the names and contributions of awardees will be published in the StudentsFirst Forum newsletter. Drexel Salutes awardees receive a gift of $100 value (of their choosing) and a certificate noting the achievement. Employees are nominated through an electronic system by managers, colleagues, students or internal customers. Students and anyone outside the University can provide nominations through an employee’s manager. Nominations must be based on a person’s outstanding demonstration of one or more of the F-I-R-S-T Principles. The nomination may be related to sustained exceptional performance or a valuable idea that promotes service improvement. Each division vice president and dean has a number of awards that can be given each quarter representing a pro rata share of the total awards (approximately 50 per year) according to the number of staff positions in the division. Awardees are selected by the division head. The division head or manager recognizes the awardee in a public event and presents a certificate describing how this person has demonstrated the F-I-R-S-T Principles. President Papadakis will present three $3,000 President’s Awards during fiscal year 2006 to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the goals of StudentsFirst. To be eligible, an employee must have received a Drexel Salutes Award. A selection committee comprised of vice presidents and deans will review nominations. The President’s Awards will be presented at a gala dinner next spring. All staff members are eligible to be recognized or to receive an award, including those without direct student contact. Students who want to recognize University staff should submit their recommendations and nominations through the employee’s supervisor. For complete details on the nomination process and the StudentsFirst Rewards and Recognition program, visit www.drexel.edu/studentsfirst/index.html and click on Rewards and Recognition.