Awards & Recognition
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University of Toronto celebrates its employees through various award programs honouring exceptional performance as well as recognition of service. While the following selection highlights some U of T programs; many divisions, departments and faculties also have their own awards. Further information of these awards can be found on the applicable websites.
Employee Awards
Awards for Administrative Staff:
Chancellor's Award
The Awards of Excellence (AWEX) program was established by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) and includes awards and scholarships funded by the UTAA, as well as other U of T partners under the umbrella of one program.
Among these awards is the Chancellor's Award. This award is comprised of two categories and grants a prize of $1000 to the recipient in each category. The Emerging Leader Award is given to a staff member in an early to mid-career administrative or service role, and the Influential Leader Award is given to a staff member in a more senior administrative role.
In addition to these programs, faculties and divisions have their own award and recognition programs to recognize outstanding achievements of faculty and staff.
Details of these programs can be found on their websites.
Nomination forms, detailed criteria, a list of previous winners and other relevant information may be found on the AWEX website.
For questions about the Chancellor's Award, please contact Lena Karpacheva in Human Resources & Equity at yelena.karpacheva@utoronto.ca or 416.978.8882.
Excellence Through Innovation Award
The Excellence Through Innovation Award celebrates the significant efforts of individuals and teams to advance the university's strategic objectives and provide an opportunity to share these best practices across the University. Call for nominations are held each Spring with the awards reception held at the President's home in the Fall.
Awards for Faculty:
Carolyn Tuohy Impact on Public Policy Award
An award recognizing excellence in teaching, research and the impact of scholarship on public policy.
Northrop Frye Award
An award given to a faculty member and an award given to a Department or Division, recognizing distinguished achievements in linking teaching and research.
Faculty Award
An award recognizing excellence in teaching, research and professional endeavours.
Vivek Goel Faculty Citizenship Award
An award given to a faculty member who has served the university with distinction in multiple leadership capacities including committees, governance bodies and external organizations complementary to the university's academic mission.
Awards for Faculty, Staff or Students:
Joan E. Foley Quality of Student Experience Award
An award given to a student, alumnus/a, administrative staff or faculty member who has made a significant contribution to improving the quality of academic or extra-curricular student life on campus.
Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize
A prize recognizing positive and lasting contributions to education and action in the fight against discrimination. It is awarded to an individual who clearly supports the University's mission to realize an exemplary degree of equity and diversity and to extend our knowledge as a consequence of our diversity.
For questions about the Ludwik and Estelle Jus Memorial Human Rights Prize, please contact Rosalyn Figov, Human Resources & Equity at rosalyn.figov@utoronto.ca or 416.978.8515.
External Awards & Recognition
University of Toronto is consistently recognized as a top employer. Most recent honours include being named: 
- One of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012 (fifth year)
- One of Canada's Best Diversity Employers for 2012 (fifth consecutive year)
- One of Canada's Top Employers for Canadians Over 40 for 2012 (second consecutive year)
- One of Greater Toronto's Top Employers for 2012 (sixth consecutive year)
- One of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2012
Photo: Christina Sass-Kortsak, Assistant Vice-President, Human Resources, with Richard Yerema, Managing Editor, Canada's Top 100 Employers receiving Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2012 award.