Golden Paw Employee of the Month
Any member of the UH community can nominate any full-time employee within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services (DSAES) to receive our monthly Golden Paw – Employee of the Month Award. This award seeks to recognize the fantastic work being done year-round as we promote and maintain student success. Nominations are due by 5:00 pm on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
Nominate a fellow staff member to receive a Golden Paw Award by submitting the online form.
Make sure you are logged into your University of Houston Microsoft Office 365 account using your Cougarnet credentials.
If the person you nominate does not win the award, their nomination will be reconsidered for up to 3 months.
Golden Paw Nomination Form Golden Paw Award Rubric
How many staff members can I nominate?
As many as you would like to recognize for their contributions! All we ask is that they are full-time staff members within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services at the UH Central campus.
How many times can a single individual be awarded a Golden Paw?
Individuals cannot win the Golden Paw more than once in an academic year term. If multiple people nominate the same staff member for the same work, the person will only receive one Golden Paw recognition.
Can I nominate a person without letting them know?
No, we would like to inform the nominee as well as their supervisors of this honor. To allow for this, nominations cannot be anonymous.
How can I access the Golden Paw Nomination Form?
You must be logged into your University of Houston Microsoft Office 365 account using your Cougarnet credentials. Access the nomination form here.
Who comprises the Golden Paw Employee of the Month Selection Committee?
The selection committee is comprised of three UH staff members who serve in various capacities outside of DSAES. Through this format, everyone within DSAES is eligible to receive the award.
Do the nominee’s exceptional actions need to have occurred during the month I am submitting the nomination?
Of course not! While it is recommended, we do understand that our employees provide exceptional service every day in their roles. However, we do ask that the nominee is being nominated for their exceptional work during the current academic school year (Ex: August 2020 – July 2021).
- Did a colleague do something for move-in that went above and beyond? Did they exceed expectations in supporting students during finals in December? Tell us WHY they should be recognized for their hard work!
- Anyone (students, faculty, staff, etc.) can nominate a full-time employee for this award – you do not have to be in the DSAES to help recognize someone, but you do have to work within DSAES to receive the award!
- If the person you nominate does not win the award, their nomination will be reconsidered for up to 3 months.
- All winners will be notified of their selection before the official announcement via DSAES News and other social mediums.
Nomination or selection for the Golden Paw Award does not prevent you from being considered for the Staff Council’s Cougar Cudos or the DSAES End of the Year awards. So, you can nominate someone for all 3 awards, if you like.
June 2019 – Eve Esch, Director of UH Student Centers & Jennifer Skopal, Director of Children’s Learning Centers
for their work with the DSAES Assessment Committee
May 2019 – Dr. Tina Powellson, Director of the Center for Student Involvement and Ja’Nelle King, Assistant Director of the Center for Student Involvement
for their work with the DSAES Professional Development Committee
March 2019 – Richard Walsh, Assistant Director for the Office of Admissions
“Richard has exemplified leadership and accountability in the Office of Admissions with the recruitment team he developed, and streamlined geo markets, territory assignments. He built a comradery among both supervisors and team members to cultivate accountability and trust.”
February 2019 – Celeste Fuentes, Financial Coordinator for Student Affairs Business Services
“Celeste is a helpful and pleasant individual to work with, particularly within a realm that I have limited experience or knowledge. She always has a warm and welcoming attitude and is willing to help out whenever asked.”
August 2017 – Rebecca Szwarc (posthumously), Administrative Assistant for Assessment in Student Housing & Residential Life.
“Rebecca was a fierce champion of student housing and the university. She was a dedicated servant leader and was passionate about doing all we could do to support students and staff. She was always sharing an idea about the latest student affairs trend she was reading, working on an award nomination, serving on a committee, and reminding staff of opportunities available to them across campus (like staff scholarships and staff council events)”