The Staff Excellence Fund is part of the total compensation package for UWaterloo staff. $250,000 is allocated annually to fund the following initiatives:
- High‐Quality Speakers. The fund will continue to sponsor speakers and events coordinated by Organizational & Human Development on topics relating to staff training and development, both within and independent of the annual staff conference. Estimated cost: $65,000/year.
- Service Recognition. This fund contributes to the university’s annual Years of Service Reception for USG Staff at their at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 year milestones (as determined by Human Resources). Estimated cost: $50,000/year.
- Engagement and Leadership Development. $50,000/year is allocated to activities, programs and services to enhance employee engagement and foster leadership development.
- Healthy Workplace Initiatives. $85,000/year is allocated for Healthy Workplace Initiatives.
UWSA's role
Staff have input into allocating the funds for the Healthy Workplace and the Engagement and Leadership Development categories through the UWSA's Staff Excellence Fund Committee, which reviews applications for these funds from across UW—including from members like you!
This committee includes the UWSA president, a UWSA staff member, the UWSA representative on the UW Healthy Workplace Committee, and, most importantly, four UWSA members at large.
Application instructions
You can submit an SEF application at any time and it will be reviewed by the SEF Committee. If approved by the SEF Committee, it will get passed on to the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC). Incomplete proposals may be rejected or returned to the submitter for more details, so be sure to fill out the form carefully!
History
The Staff Excellence Fund was established in January 2009 by the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) when the Special Recognition Award Program for University Support Staff was discontinued.
Currently funded projects
VR for Workplace Wellness
Research has repeatedly demonstrated that spending time in nature can positively impact our personal wellbeing. While we don’t always have easy access to natural spaces, recent research is demonstrating that even encountering nature using immersive virtual reality can have similar positive effects! The Conflict Management and Human Rights Office (CMAHRO), with support from the SEF, is bringing these benefits to UW staff with three Meta Quest 2 head-mounted displays (HMDs) in each of the Dana Porter and Davis Center libraries, preloaded with the Nature Treks VR app. Learn more about VR for Workplace Wellness.
Ways to Play: Fitness and wellness programming
Since fall 2022, SEF funding has allowed Warrior Recreation to offer daily fitness opportunities to staff, including staff workouts, rock climbing, archery, table tennis, yoga, nidra meditation, kickboxing, skating, and more. Sign up for a free SEF Staff Membership and register for classes on the Ways to Play for Staff webpage.
