Service and Merit Awards
Save the Date!
2026 Service and Merit Awards Ceremony
Monday, Nov. 16 | 3:30 p.m. | McLaren Complex
Fr. William J. Dunne Award
Effective Sept. 14, we are opening nominations for the Fr. William J. Dunne Award. The Fr. Dunne Award is the university's highest staff award and is given to a staff member who has demonstrated excellence to USF and the community at large through service, creativity, innovation, and leadership, above and beyond the scope of regular job duties. Fr. Dunne was the university's longest-serving president from 1938–54, overseeing a time of immense growth and expansion for the university with compassion and vision. View past recipients »
We encourage you to nominate a fellow colleague today! NOTE: Nominees should be non-faculty staff members in good standing with at least three years of continuous service through Aug. 31, 2026.
Submit your nomination by Friday, Sept. 25 »
Service Honorees
Staff, faculty, and librarians will be honored at the ceremony for their five-year service milestones. Honorees will receive anniversary pins as well as digital badges. Service honorees will receive separate email notifications providing more information about their anniversaries at the beginning of October.
USF Service Awards
Each year, individuals are honored for their number of years of service with the University as they reach each 5-year milestone. For example, individuals receive awards at 5-years, 10-years, 15-years, and so on. Individuals to be honored are notified during the spring semester.
NOTE: Years of service are calculated as years of continuous employment with no more than a two-year break in employment. Years of service do not include student employment or temporary employment.
USF Merit Award
All faculty members, staff members (including Executive Officers), and students can submit nominations for the following USF Merit Award by clicking on the appropriate links below during the filing period. All nominees must be in good standing and not on a performance improvement plan.
IMPORTANT: Nominations may only be submitted via the online nomination forms. The community will be notified when the annual submission period has been opened.
| USF Merit Award | Eligibility* | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fr. William J. Dunne Award | A non-faculty staff member with at least three calendar years of continuous service through Aug. 31, 2026. | Demonstrated excellence to USF and the community at large through service, creativity, innovation, and leadership, above and beyond the scope of regular job duties. NOTE: this award may be given to a team at the discretion of the Selection Committee. |
*The following individuals are ineligible to receive a USF Merit Award:
- Executive Officers (President, Provost, Vice Provost, Vice President, General Counsel, Executive Directors of University and members of the Leadership Team)
- Other officers (Chancellor, Executive Assistant to the President, Human Resources staff)
- Academic research teams (ineligible for the Team Merit Award)
- Self-nominations (except for a team member who may nominate his/her team for a Team Merit Award)
- Note: All nominees must be in good standing to be eligible for an award.
Past Recipients
Questions
For questions on the Service and Merit Awards, please email serviceandmerit@usfca.edu.