It's time: Tell someone 'U Make a Difference'

For the next four weeks, employees all over campus will be working on U Make a Difference nomination packages about the people who have a positive impact on the university community.

Making a little extra time at work to recognize a colleague is not always that easy — that’s why Jan Crook, associate director of counselling in the Wellness Centre, was so blown away when she learned that she had been nominated for a 2018 U Make a Difference award.

”It can be easy to get lost in the business side of university,” Crook says. “Sometimes at work, we can focus on what did and didn’t go well, and U Make a Difference awards reinforce the importance of what we do and the impact we have on others around us.”

Crook says after reading the letters of support for her nomination, attending the awards ceremony, and reflecting on her overall U Make a Difference experience, she decided to share that feeling and — for the first time ever — nominate a colleague for a U Make a Difference award.

“It’s a really neat way to make a difference for someone,” Crook says, “It’s very impactful to be nominated — I would know.”

How to elevate your nomination package

New nominators like Crook can learn a few tips from U Make a Difference veterans like Debbie Bruckner, senior director of Student Wellness.

“I have been successful in nominating many people for the award,” says Bruckner who was one of Crook’s nominators in 2018.

Bruckner has a few nomination tricks up her sleeve, but her favourite is all about collecting diverse points of view. 

“I think the most important thing I’ve done in all my nominations is bring a group together to nominate an individual,” she says. “When writing letters of support, groups bring different perspectives from across your unit, department or the university,” she says. “We’re all in the university family, and these connections make it a better place to work and support success.”

To make the letters of support even more impactful, Bruckner suggests adding a personal touch.

“It’s not advisable to repeat someone’s job profile and accountabilities, it’s more than that,” she says. ”It’s about that extra spirit, innovation, and drive that someone brings to their work.”

Bruckner says successful nomination packages personalize the impact the nominee has on you, your team, your department and the university as a whole.

U Make a Difference awards recognize excellence in one of three key areas: innovation and curiosity, collaboration and communication, and a positive work environment and community.

It’s worth the time

U Make a Difference awards recognize excellence in one of three key areas: innovation and curiosity, collaboration and communication, and a positive work environment and community.

But making a nomination isn’t something that should be put together on a whim, according to Bruckner. There are a number of ways to recognize colleagues all year around, but U Make a Difference is a different level of recognition that requires time and effort.

“I use the university’s e-notes and personal conversations to recognize colleagues,” she says. “But providing this level of recognition should take some time because you’re reflecting on accomplishments to build a case for them.”

That time and effort, Bruckner says, is always worth it.

“We are very supportive of other’s accomplishments every day, but to have the U Make a Difference awards in addition to that has a personal significance because the ceremony is so lovely,” Bruckner says. “It’s a really special identification of someone’s value and it feels incredible to nominate someone who deserves it.”

Nominations are open Feb. 12 to March 15. 

Recognition is one of the 13 factors illustrated in the National Standard. The University of Calgary is a recipient of the Excellence Canada Mental Health at Work Silver Level Certification in this area. Visit WellBeing and WorkLife to learn more about the implementation of the National Standard at the University of Calgary and to learn about existing programs and resources that support each of the 13 Factors.