Distance Learning IT Specialists Share November Employee of the Month Award

November 30, 2015

Jennifer McConnell and Heidi Morris receive the November Employee of the Month award from September Sanderlin, vice president for human resources

Jennifer McConnell and Heidi Morris collaborated as a team to create a project that began as a distance learning product and ended as a focus piece in the 85th anniversary celebration.

The project, a calendar the Office of Distance Learning regularly produces to distribute as a thank you gift, was taken to new heights this year with an idea to create photos showing a then-and-now view of campus.

Working many hours as a team, McConnell and Morris spent the summer of 2015 researching the University's historical archives for black and white photos, and then working to determine the exact location and angle the photos were taken. The photography work alone took several days. The pair then held the photo over the location and took a new photo to capture the moment and feeling of then-and-now.

Once the photos were taken, additional hours were put into post-production work. McConnell and Morris integrated the photos into the calendar design and created the finished product.

According to their supervisor, Tammy Dodson: "I have worked with Heidi for two years and Jenny for over one year as their supervisor. They are at a level of doing high quality work for several departments across campus involving website content and design, print materials, email campaigns, education fair presentations and more. They work with a variety of faculty, administrators, community college partners and external vendors to produce high-quality results on a consistent basis."

DETAILS ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH PROCESS

The University Employee of the Month Selection Committee encourages employees to nominate their outstanding, "go the extra mile" colleagues and employees. This program is designed to acknowledge and reward employees whose accomplishments and/or demeanor exemplify excellence, quality service and commitment to ODU. Classified and AP faculty employees receive a framed certificate from the president, $175 and one day of leave. Hourly winners get $250, since they are not eligible to receive recognition leave.

Note: The selection committee needs specific examples that relate to each applicable criterion in order to select a nominee for the award. Nominations remain active for six months from date of submission and nominators may submit additional documentation to support a nominee during the active six months.

The criteria used to nominate an employee include the following:

• An outstanding accomplishment that benefited the department/students.
• Extraordinary service to internal and/or external customers.
• Inspiring initiative/leadership.
• Enthusiasm/energy given to assigned work.
• Teamwork.
• Exemplary efforts to nurture a climate of care, concern and civility.
• Creative innovations to service, process or work tools.

For more information contact Tony Belk at jbelk@odu.edu or 683-3046, or visit ODU's Employee of the Month website.