Golden Paw Employee of the Month - University of Houston
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Division of Student Affairs

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Golden Paw Employee of the Month

Any member of the UH community can nominate any full-time employee within the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) 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 Coog

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

How does it work?

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 at the UH Central campus.
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.
No, we would like to inform the nominee as well as their supervisors of this honor. To allow for this, nominations cannot be anonymous.
You must be logged into your University of Houston Microsoft Office 365 account using your Cougarnet credentials to access the nomination form.
The selection committee is made up of the DSA assessment director, marketing and communications director, and the HR business partner.
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).

Tips on who you should nominate

  • 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 DSA to help recognize someone, but you do have to work within DSA 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 DSA News and other social mediums.
  • Please give us specific examples of why you think this person should win the Golden Paw Employee of the Month Award.

Nomination or selection for the Golden Paw Award does not prevent you from being considered for the Staff Council’s Cougar Cudos or the DSA End of the Year awards. So, you can nominate someone for all 3 awards, if you like.

Platinum Paw Award

The Platinum Paw Award is an annual recognition bestowed upon a staff member who has previously received a Golden Paw Award during the academic school year. The Platinum Paw represents the pinnacle of excellence, honoring an individual who has consistently gone above and beyond in their duties. This award will be presented each year at the Division of Student Affairs End of Year Awards Ceremony and serves as special recognition for exceptional commitment and outstanding achievements.

Diamond Paw Award

The Diamond Paw is a distinctive honor that will not be regularly awarded. With recipients selected at the discretion of the Vice President of Student Affairs, this award will recognize a staff member who has demonstrated exceptional performance and resilience under extreme or unusual circumstances. The Diamond Paw acknowledges individuals who have excelled in their job responsibilities while facing high-pressure situations or navigating challenging circumstances.