07-11.01 鈥� Regular Faculty and Staff Service Awards

  1. Policy Statement: 

    Towson University (鈥淯niversity鈥�) has developed this policy and these procedures to recognize and show appreciation to all regular faculty and staff reaching a service year milestone for their contributions and dedication to the University as established by the criteria set forth herein. 

  2. Definitions: 

    1. 鈥淐reditable Service鈥� means service that begins on the date of continuous employment as a regular faculty member paid on a bi-weekly basis or a regular staff member paid on a bi-weekly basis at the University. Part-time faculty and staff will receive service credit proportional to their full-time equivalency (FTE).

      Prior regular service will also be included in the Creditable Service calculation if the employee is eligible for reinstatement in accordance with TU Policy 07-09.60, Policy on Reinstatement for Regular Employees. 

    2. 鈥淐ontingent Employment鈥� means a non-regular status of employment for non-exempt or exempt positions at the University.

      In accordance with USM Policy VII-1.40, Policy on Contingent Status Employment for Non-Exempt and Exempt Staff Employees, contingent employment immediately preceding the change to regular employment, wherein the employee worked at least 50% FTE with no break in service, shall be counted as Creditable Service

    3. 鈥淩egular Faculty and Staff鈥� means an employee who (1) works in a position that has been approved through the budgetary and pertinent appointment classification process and (2) that is intended to last six months or more regardless of the nature of the source of funds; and (3) who works either full-time or part-time on a basis of at least 50% of full-time. 

    4. 鈥淯npaid Leave of Absence鈥� means a voluntary approved leave of absence without pay during which time the pay, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment are suspended for the duration of the leave. 

  3. Responsible Executive and Office:

    Responsible Executive:
    Associate Vice President of Human Resources

    Responsible Office:
    Office of Human Resources

  4. Entities Affected by this Policy:

    All regular faculty and staff. 

  5. Procedures: 

    1. Eligibility 

      1. All regular faculty and staff are eligible for a service award based on their total creditable years of service at the University as of the end of the current calendar year. 

      2. Contingent employment that immediately preceded regular employment status, with no break in service, will be counted as creditable years of service for service award eligibility. 

      3. If the employee is on an Unpaid Leave of Absence, the original service date is adjusted by subtracting the period of leave. 

      4. If the employee is on approved paid leave, such leave time will be included in the calculation of creditable years of service for service award eligibility. 

      5. There is no adjustment for any military leave periods. 

    2. Process 

      1. Faculty and staff reaching a service milestone are sent a catalog from an external vendor to select an award of their choice, from a selection of awards commensurate with years of service. Awards are sent directly to the home address. 

      2. Each spring a recognition event is held to acknowledge faculty and staff who reached a service milestone during the preceding calendar year. 

      3. Faculty and staff who have reached a service milestone of five-year increments: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 years in the preceding calendar year are eligible for a service award and are invited to the annual recognition event. 

Related Policies:

TU Policy 07-01.43, Policy on Contingent Status Employment for Non-Exempt and Exempt Employees

TU Policy 02-02.20, Policy on Leave without Pay for Faculty

TU Policy 07-07.12, Policy on Leave of Absence without Pay

TU Policy 07-09.60, Policy on Reinstatement for Regular Employees

Approval Date: 5/19/2004

Effective Date: 5/19/2004

Amended Date: 2/19/2020

Approved By: President鈥檚 Council

Signed By: President鈥檚 Council

How to Request the Policy PDF

This online version of the policy may include updated links and names of departments. To request a PDF of the original, signed version of this policy, email the Office of the General Counsel, .