Employee Recognition at UofL
Submitting Nominations
In partnership with the University of Louisville Association of Retired Personnel (ULARP) and the UofL Alumni Association, we recognize retirees through two meaningful awards.
The Distinguished Retiree Excellence Award honors retired faculty and staff for outstanding scholarship or community service after retirement that reflects the university’s Cardinal Principles and creates meaningful impact, whether at UofL or in the broader community.
The Distinguished Alumni Retiree Excellence Award celebrates retirees who are also UofL alumni for post-retirement contributions that strengthen the university’s legacy through service or scholarship, demonstrating continued dedication to UofL’s mission and values.
These awards celebrate quality of scholarship or service (improvement, impact, and outside recognition), with length of service valued but not required.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are open from December 1, 2025 to February 15, 2026.
For External Nominators (No UofL Login Required)
If you do not have a UofL login and cannot access the form, please email your nomination materials directly to staffrec@louisville.edu. In your email, include:
- Nominator’s name and phone number
- Nominee’s name, email, and phone number
- Your relationship to the nominee
Please attach a one-page letter addressed to the Selection Committee outlining why the nominee should receive the award. Characteristics to Address in the Nomination Letter include:
- Stature of service or scholarship: Following retirement from the University of Louisville, describe how the nominee has given distinguished service or scholarship to the university or community in or beyond the University of Louisville, at the local, regional, state, national or international level. Service that draws upon the career discipline of the nominee may be considered
- How have lives been impacted by the nominee’s service?
- How far has the impact of this service been felt (regional/state/national level)?
- To what extent has this service had an impact or improved the community served?
UofL takes pride in recognizing the dedication and achievements of its faculty and staff through the annual Presidential Excellence Awards. The award categories include:
Cardinal Principles Champions
Distinguished Faculty Awards
George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award
Outstanding Performance Awards
Outstanding Supervisor Award
Team Impact Award
Distinguished Retiree Awards (see details for Retiree nominations in the above tab)
Most nominations can be submitted by anyone at the university. You don’t need to be their supervisor, direct report (unless it’s for the supervisor award!) or even in the same department.
We see amazing things happening every day with the people around us at the university. We encourage you to think about all the wonderful people you meet and work with and how they’re making a difference for our students, staff, and the whole university community.
The nomination submission portal for the 2026 awards will open on December 1.
Presidential Excellence Awards
Each year, the University of Louisville celebrates outstanding faculty and staff through the Presidential Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards. These university-wide honors recognize excellence across a variety of roles and contributions.
Categories include Cardinal Principles Champions, Distinguished Faculty Awards, the George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award, Outstanding Performance Awards, Outstanding Supervisor Award, Team Impact Award, and the Distinguished Retiree Excellence Award.
Milestone Recognition
The University of Louisville proudly celebrates the dedication and contributions of its employees through milestone recognition. Each year, we honor staff and faculty who reach significant service anniversaries, as well as those who retire from the university.
These recognitions reflect our deep appreciation for the time, talent, and commitment our employees bring to UofL. Whether marking a decade of service or celebrating a career’s culmination, these milestones are an important part of our campus community.
Student Champions
Each spring, UofL invites students to reflect on their academic journey and recognize faculty and staff who have made a meaningful impact along the way. Student Champions are those individuals who go above and beyond to support student success - both inside and outside the classroom.
Through this recognition, we celebrate the dedication, encouragement, and care that help shape the student experience at UofL.
Learn more about Recognition
Sign in to learn more about recognition and submit nominations.