# Dean's Distinction FAQs ## expand\_more You may have some questions about the Dean's Distinction nominations process. Check out the frequently asked questions and responses below. Open all sections Close all sections ### Who is eligible to submit Dean’s Distinction nominations? expand\_more All FAS faculty and benefits-eligible staff can submit Dean’s Distinction nominations. If a Harvard student and/or postdoc would like to submit a nomination for Dean’s Distinction, they must have a co-nominator who is an FAS faculty member or benefits-eligible staff member. ### Are Harvard retirees eligible to nominate a staff member for Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Yes, provided they were still a Harvard employee (not yet retired) in 2025. ### Who is eligible to be nominated for Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Eligible FAS staff members for 2026 Dean’s Distinction are: - Benefits-eligible, full-time or part-time staff - Non-HUCTW and HUCTW staff - Hired into an FAS benefits-eligible position on or before 1/1/2025 - Job grade levels: - 47 through 60 for Individual Dean's Distinction - 47 through 64 for Team Dean's Distinction - Less than Half Time (LHT) staff and staff hired into an FAS benefits-eligible position after 1/1/2025 may be nominated as a member of a team, but not as an individual **Please note**: While previous Dean's Distinction nominees (from any year) are eligible to be nominated again this year, ***recipients of Individual Dean’s Distinction in 2020-2025 are not eligible***, unless they are being nominated for Team Dean's Distinction. Harvard retirees are not eligible. ### Are individuals allowed to nominate themselves? expand\_more Yes, FAS staff members may nominate themselves, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. ### Are coaches eligible for Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Coaches are not eligible for recognition under Dean’s Distinction. If you are looking to recognize a coach for excellent work, we recommend looking at other recognition programs such as [Harvard Heroes](https://hr.fas.harvard.edu/pages/harvard-heroes). However, coaches may nominate other FAS staff members. Athletics administrative staff members are eligible. ### Is a term position employee eligible for Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Yes, provided the employee meets all eligibility requirements, and will still be actively employed by Harvard by the time of the celebration event in the spring. ### When are completed nomination forms due? expand\_more Nomination forms may be submitted online beginning **Monday, January 5, 2026 through to 11:59pm on Friday, January 16, 2026**. Late submissions will not be accepted. ### Is there a suggested length and requested content for nominations? expand\_more Nomination narratives should be between 500 and 2,500 characters in length. When writing your nomination, it can be helpful to identify how an individual or team exemplified one or more of the guiding principles in their work over the last year: - Cultivating a strong sense of community and connection across the FAS. - Building morale in the work environment with intentional care and consideration. - Exceeding regular responsibilities and expectations (i.e., going above and beyond) even in the course of doing one’s regular job. - Promoting empathy, authenticity, and mutual respect as hallmarks of excellence in the FAS. - Demonstrating creativity and innovation through collaboration and solutions-oriented approaches. Nominations that are able to **specifically tie the nominee's contributions to the guiding principles** have a greater chance of being selected for recognition. ### Can more than one individual nominate the same staff member or team for Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Yes, several nominators can use the same form to nominate a staff member or team. Alternatively, nominators can use separate forms to nominate the same person or team. ### Can I submit more than one nomination? expand\_more Yes, you may nominate more than one staff member or team for Dean’s Distinction. We have no limit on the number of nominations you may submit. ### Can I nominate a staff member or team that works in a different department than I do? expand\_more Yes, cross-departmental nominations are encouraged. If you decide to nominate a staff member or team who works in a department other than yours, we encourage you to have a conversation with the proposed nominee or team’s direct manager(s) to confirm there is support for the nomination. ### Can I nominate a direct report who has been a strong and steady worker for many years? expand\_more f you would like to recognize a strong-performing staff member for consistent performance over several years, there are other recognition opportunities to consider. such as local level recognition programs or Harvard Heroes. Dean’s Distinction honors staff who have stood out in **their work over the past year**. ### What is the difference between an Individual Dean’s Distinction and a Team Dean’s Distinction nomination? expand\_more A single staff member can be nominated for an *Individual Dean’s Distinction* for their outstanding contribution, collaboration and exceptional citizenship in 2025 in support of the teaching and research mission. A team consisting of up to eight (and in rare cases, up to twelve) staff members can be nominated for a *Team Dean’s Distinction* for their exceptional teamwork, and for their collaboration and contribution in 2025. *Please note, the maximum number of staff members that can be nominated for Team Dean’s Distinction is eight. However, exceptions can be made for up to twelve people if the circumstances call for it. If the team you are nominating is over eight, please explain why the team has additional members.* ### Will I receive notification when I submit a nomination? expand\_more Yes, you will see an automatic on-screen acknowledgement when you click “submit.” You will also receive an email confirmation. (Please make sure to check your junk mailbox in case you do you not receive the email confirmation in your inbox.) ### Will nominees be notified that they have been nominated? expand\_more No, nominees will not be notified that they have been nominated. Only those nominees who are ultimately selected as the 2026 recipients will be notified that they have been selected. ### Do multiple nominations (more than one nominator) or signatures on a nomination letter increase the nominee’s chance of being selected? expand\_more A nominee with a single nominator will be given the same thoughtful consideration as a nominee with several nominators. ### How will Dean’s Distinction recipients be announced? expand\_more The 2026 Dean’s Distinction recipients will be announced via email to all FAS staff. Information will also be shared on the FAS HR website and in the FAS Reporter. ### What if an employee selected for Dean’s Distinction retires or is no longer at Harvard prior to the recognition event? expand\_more An employee must be actively employed by FAS at the time of the celebration event in order to receive Dean’s Distinction. ### There are other great managers/colleagues/employees in my department, aside from the individual I nominated. Would you please keep my name anonymous in case my nominee wins? I don’t wish to offend others by omitting them. expand\_more Nominators’ names are shared only for Dean’s Distinction recipients. We do not share the names of nominators of staff members who were nominated but did not receive Dean’s Distinction. ### Can I nominate a staff member who previously received an Individual Dean’s Distinction or Team Dean’s Distinction? expand\_more Please see the following table: SortIf a staff member received:They are eligible for:Individual Dean’s Distinction in 2019 or prior Individual Dean’s Distinction in 2026 or Team Dean’s Distinction in 2026 Individual Dean’s Distinction in 2020—2025 Team Dean’s Distinction in 2026 Team Dean’s Distinction in 2025 or prior Individual Dean’s Distinction in 2026 or Team Dean’s Distinction in 2026 ### Can I nominate a team of more than eight staff members? expand\_more The maximum number of staff members that can be nominated for Team Dean’s Distinction is eight. However, rare exceptions can be made for up to twelve people if the circumstances call for it. If the team you are nominating is over eight, please explain why the team has additional members. ### May someone nominate a team of which they are a part? And if so, must the nominator recuse themself from the team in order to nominate? expand\_more Any FAS faculty or staff may nominate any eligible staff person—including oneself—for an Individual Dean’s Distinction or Team Dean’s Distinction. The nominator does not need to recuse themselves if they are a member of the team they are nominating. ### Can I nominate a Less than Half Time (LHT) employee or someone hired after 1/1/2025? expand\_more LHT staff and staff members hired after 1/1/2025 are eligible for nomination for Team Dean’s Distinction, but not Individual Dean’s Distinction. The selection committee will consider these nominations in a case-by-case basis when evaluating team nominations.