Infinite Mile Awards Program Details
Nomination
forms: Web Form | MS Word Form
Past recipients: 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007
Mission Statement
The MIT Libraries' Infinite Mile Award Program is a peer recognition program, recognizing exceptional contributions, achievements, and endeavors from both Support and Administrative Staff, which support the Libraries' Mission. Collection, access, and stewardship of resources, education of users, and elevation of the Libraries' profile across the MIT community, as well as internal organizational improvements and services, represent some of the areas in which individuals and teams are able to make noteworthy contributions. Recognition will target both one-time/ad hoc projects and the ongoing work which sustains the Libraries' role as primary information provider to the MIT community.
Award Opportunities
Deliverance of sustained, exceptional work, translation of strategic goals and values into actions, implementation of effective change, and leadership, in all its forms and at all levels, constitute performance worthy of recognition. Awards may be given for completed activities as well as achieving major milestones toward ongoing activities. Normally a maximum of four individual and four team awards will be given in an award year. The number of awards given is established for budgetary reasons and not necessarily associated with the number of award categories, as these may change from time to time.
Awards are given to individuals and teams based on the five criteria categories. A team is defined as any group working together with a common purpose or to achieve a common goal. There is no size restriction. A team can be as few as two people and as many as an entire department.
Award Criteria
Following are the five award areas, along with suggested criteria:
INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
- Articulates vision.
- Develops effective strategies.
- Exhibits resourcefulness in response to challenge.
- Uses time and resources economically.
- Facilitates others' use of time and resources.
- Enhances customer service and experience.
COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
- Translates goals into action.
- Makes connections between individual/team work and the Libraries' mission.
- Fosters productive working relationships.
- Contributes to effective group purpose and progress.
- Supports peers in achievement of library projects while sustaining seamless service.
- Enables and supports peers in realizing their full job potential.
- Demonstrates commitment and resilience in the face of change.
RESULTS, OUTCOME AND PRODUCTIVITY
- Provides outstanding services to internal and/or external customers.
- Translates strategic goals into action.
- Motivates others toward achievement through example and approach.
- Uses time and resources economically.
- Develops strategies for effective teamwork.
- Exhibits resourcefulness in response to change.
- Sustains high quality services.
COMMUNITY
(The Community Award recognizes endeavors which may satisfy any of the above criteria when applied to certain contexts.)
- Provides behind-the-scenes support for public activities or change initiatives.
- Initiates or contributes to cross-functional or interdepartmental efforts.
- Effects system-wide impacts upon workplace issues or customer services.
- Reinforces or enhances the Libraries' relationship with the Institute.
UNSUNG HERO(ES)
- Are a dependable, steady presence in their Department, Library or Unit.
- Takes initiative to solve problems and improve work situations, often invisibly, and without being prompted.
- Are reliable, persevering and place high value on the success of their unit.
- Consistently goes above and beyond without fanfare.
Award Program Funding
Funds for the Libraries' Rewards and Recognition Program are provided by the Institute. This allocation is intended to cover the cost of both Infinite Mile Awards and Spot Awards, as well as costs associated with awards ceremonies/events. The Libraries' Human Resources Administrator is responsible for managing the Rewards and Recognition budget, in consultation with the Associate Director for Administration and the Rewards and Recognitions Committee Chair.
Form of Awards
As the number of awards and the number of individuals (i.e. team membership) to whom awards will be given will vary in any given year, the form and amounts of the awards distributed will not be pre-determined. The Rewards and Recognition Committee will determine award amounts as well as the form of awards, having the options of both cash awards and gift certificates. All individual awards for any one year will be for the same amount. This would also apply for the amount given to each member of a team, i.e. each member of a team will receive an equal amount, no matter the size of the team. In the case of gift certificates, recipients will be given choices within a pre-determined dollar amount.
Award Schedule
The award year runs concurrently with the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30. An award event will be held each year near the end of June, during which the Director of Libraries will present the awards.
Note: the annual Rewards and Recognition Award event is separate and apart from the Libraries' annual service award event held in January.
Nomination Schedule and Process
Solicitation of nominations will begin once the Rewards and Recognition Committee has had an opportunity to conduct the program review and no later than January 1. Solicitation will occur according to the Committee's established schedule via email and/or paper mailings. Nominations may be made at any time during the year. They must be made using the nomination form (link at top of page) or through interdepartmental mail using a paper copy of the form. Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of the Rewards and Recognition Committee. Nominations are encouraged from ALL staff. Nominators may make multiple nominations (on separate forms).
Notes: No self-nominations or anonymous nominations will be accepted. Members of the Libraries Rewards and Recognition Committee may not submit nominations. Members of the Rewards and Recognition Committee are not eligible to receive individual awards, however, they may be considered for an award as a result of their team membership. Nominations from non-library staff will not be accepted. In these cases, nominators will be encouraged to submit their nominations for consideration as part of the Institute's Excellence Award Program.
Selection Process
After the nomination deadline has passed, the Libraries' Reward and Recognition Committee will review all nominations and determine the number of awards to be given in each category (suggested maximum is four individual and four team). Nominations will be judged within the context of the established criteria. Committee members may require additional information or clarification for their deliberations and will seek this information through the Human Resources Administrator. Every effort will be made to designate awards in each category. Should Committee members require additional information or clarification for their deliberations, they will seek this seek this information through the Libraries' Human Resources Administrator.
The committee will submit names of award recipients, award amounts, and forms of awards for Steering Committee review six weeks prior to the scheduled award event in late June. Within two weeks, the Associate Director for Administration will meet with the Rewards and Recognition Committee to relay Steering Committee's response and to discuss any related issues.
Notes: Award recipients must be in the employ of the MIT Libraries on the day of the award event in order to be eligible to receive an Infinite Mile Award. Individual award recipients are not eligible to receive individual awards in consecutive award years. However, team member recipients are eligible to receive an award the following year either as a team member or individual. Should a member of the Rewards and Recognition Committee be nominated to receive an award as a member of a team, he/she must not participate in committee deliberations pertaining to that particular award category.
Notification Process
Prior to the award event, award recipients will receive a letter from the Director of Libraries informing them that they will be formally recognized with an award on the scheduled date of the award event. Letters to team award recipients will include names of all members of the team. Copies of the notification letter will also be sent to the nominator and the nominees' Department Head.
Notes: In order to maintain some element of surprise for staff, the names of award recipients will be disclosed to only those in receipt of the award letter and will be kept confidential until the award event.
Program Review
During the months of July, August, and September, the past and current Rewards and Recognition Committees will have time to meet and review the program. Should any changes be needed, the current committee will prepare the proposed changes for Steering Committee review. Approved changes to the program will be in place by January 1.
Rewards and Recognition Committee
Membership: The Libraries' Reward and Recognition Committee will be comprised of previous year award recipients and will be selected by Steering Committee. The Committee will be a composite representation, as best as possible, of the library staff.
Responsibilities:
- Meet with outgoing Rewards and Recognition Committee to review previous year process and identify any issues for resolution during transition phase (July 1 through September 30). Propose changes, if any, to Libraries' Steering Committee for consideration.
- Establish schedule and initiate calls for nominations (Nomination period may begin as early as October 1 and as late as January 1).
- Participate in monthly Spot Award drawing.
- Review Infinite Mile nominations and select award recipients.
- Propose award amounts and form of awards (cash or gift certificate) for Infinite Mile awards.
- Schedule, plan, and facilitate Infinite Mile Award event.
- Promote Institute Excellence Award Program and encourage nominations.
Program Facilitation
The Human Resources Administrator will be responsible for providing administrative support to the Rewards and Recognition Committee and for the facilitation of some aspects of the program including committee appointments, nomination distributions, maintenance of program web site, procurement of awards, and serving as the Institute's R&R key contact. S/he will also manage the Rewards and Recognition budget, as allocated by the Institute, in consultation with the Associate Director for Administration and the Rewards and Recognition Committee Chair
|