Beverly Funk Barnes Educator Excellence Award

Beverly Funk Barnes Educator/Staff Excellence Award
Purpose

The Beverly Funk Barnes Educator/Staff Excellence Award is focused on rewarding university faculty and staff who continually create new value for those they work with through dedication, passion and creativity for the benefit of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Based on the principle of "Fred the mailman" from Denver, Colorado, this award focuses on rewarding UNI employees whom embody the "Fred Factor." For more infoamtion on the "Fred Factor", visit these links:
- https://youtu.be/4GKQ9kTnSg4
- https://youtu.be/AXDsr-QL_m4
This UNI Foundation award is sponsored by the generous support of Andrea Barnes, who is "excited to acknowledge faculty and staff members going above and beyond for now and in the future."

Eligibility

Faculty: Any currently employed faculty member with a minimum of three years of service at UNI. Prior recipients are eligible for consideration provided they have demonstrated new examples of award fundamentals.

Staff: Any currently employed Merit or Professional & Scientific (P&S) staff member with a minimum of five years of service at UNI. Prior recipients are eligible for consideration provided they have demonstrated new examples of award fundamentals.

Selection Process

To be considered for this award, potential recipients should be nominated by a UNI colleague or UNI student, or self-nominate. Nominations should be submitted by February 26, 2026.

The awards committee consists of faculty, staff members, and students. College Senate Chairs recommend faculty from each college (one from WLSN, COE, CSBS and Library and two from CHAS) as representatives to the Provost & Executive Vice Presdient for Academic Affairs (Provost). In addition, two Merit staff, two P&S staff, and three UNI students will be recommended to the Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations to be selected. The committee will review all nominations and forward their recommendations to the Provost and Senior VP. The committee's recommendation shall remain confidential until the Provost and Senior VP announce the recipients.

YOUR Name:

First NameLast Name
YOUR Email Address:
example@example.com
Are you nominating a:
Nominations shall come from a UNI colleague, UNI student or self-nomination. Please select what best fits your role:
Name of staff member you are nominating:

First NameLast Name
Name of faculty member you are nominating:

First NameLast Name
Nominators should answer two of the following questions in 500 words or less for each question selected. Please select the two questions you would like to answer and a box will appear below for each question.
1. Describe how the nominee makes a difference at UNI

0/500
2. Everything is built on relationships. Provide an example of how the nominee has gone above and beyond by simply interacting with students and/or colleagues to build relationships for the betterment of the UNI family

0/500
3. UNI is often referred to as “doing more with less.” Provide an example of how the nominee demonstrated creativity using minimal resources which resulted in a positive outcome that benefits students or staff, and created value at UNI.

0/500
4. One of the Fred Principles is based around “reinventing” one’s self. Provide an example of when the nominee willingly took on a new challenge or task outside their experience or expertise in an effort to benefit the team.

0/500
Should be Empty:

Beverly Funk Barnes Educator/Staff Excellence Award