Record Number of Outstanding Supervisors Nominated by MSU Staff & Faculty

The MSU WorkLife Office has some great news to share. During this very challenging year, we received the most nominations we ever have for MSU’s Outstanding Supervisor Awards! The committee met and selected 8 winners for this past year, they said there could have easily been more than 20 winners. We look forward to sharing more information after the winners are announced.  

I wanted to send some positive information about the MSU Outstanding Supervisor Awards (OSA) this year. With the increased emphasis on honorifics and highlighting our amazing Spartans, we received a record-setting fifty two (52) nominations from twenty four (24) different units and departments across MSU.  
 
Since 2001, the Outstanding Supervisor Awards has served as a platform for MSU staff and faculty to recognize their supervisors who consistently support the work-life (both professional and personal) needs of their employees through positive leadership and managerial practices. Since the award program began over two decades ago, eight three (83) supervisors have been recognized for their outstanding ability to support, encourage, and lead their teams while keeping work-life balance for employees in the forefront of their priorities. 
 
The winners are selected through rigorous review and rankings of information received through nomination packets submitted by the supervisor’s team – typically, unbeknownst to the supervisor. The review is completed by a dedicated and experienced group of MSU employees, including 10 staff and faculty members, each representing different departments and several representing various union groups. Nominees are rated based on demonstrating a keen understanding of worklife sensitivity and support of the professional/personal needs of the employees in their unit. 
 
This year, nominators will be notified by late September if their supervisor has been selected. Celebrations will occur around National Bosses Day on October 16, and will include a fun gathering with the surprised supervisor, their employees, and award committee members, to celebrate the award and provide deserved recognition. This celebration includes a team gift, dessert, and an Outstanding Supervisor banner. 
 
Each year, I am blown away by the time and effort employees put into nominating their respective supervisors. One employee wrote, “[She] is the kind of supervisor that truly champions her employees. She encourages continued learning and networking through professional development and education…she is that rare supervisor that manages to balance the needs of the workplace with the desires and ambitions of her team and provides the room to grow and flourish both as individuals and team members.”  
 
Please let me know if I can answer any questions regarding the Outstanding Supervisor Award and the importance of creating this space for teams to celebrate and recognize truly outstanding supervisors at MSU. 
 
Sincerely,   

Jaimie Hutchison, MA, LPC  
Director, MSU WorkLife Office