UC Division Wins Governor's Award for Quality Service

University of Cincinnati’s Division of Administrative and Business Services has won the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the state's premier quality service award program. A&BS is just one of five organizations to receive the award since the program’s inception in 1998.

The award will be presented formally to the UC division, which is headed by Vice President James R. Tucker, on Sept. 12 in Columbus. The ceremony will be part of the Ohio Award for Excellence (OAE) Quest for Success educational and recognition conference at the Radisson Airport Hotel Conference Center Sept. 10-12.

UC’s award from the governor is the highest tier presented in the OAE competition. The Governor's Award for Excellence is bestowed to organizations that are outstanding examples of excellence in the State of Ohio, exhibiting "world class" processes that serve as role models for others. Patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the OAE is endorsed by Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. The selection process included a three-day on-site visit that involved inspections and interviews with employees and managers at all levels of the division.

“This is a tremendous honor both for the Administrative and Business Services Division and the entire University of Cincinnati community. It’s an especially notable achievement since UC is the sole recipient this year and the first institution of higher education to receive the Governor’s Award since its inception in 1998,” said UC President Joseph A. Steger.

"Great credit for winning the Governor's Award for Excellence is due to the outstanding staff of the University of Cincinnati's Administrative and Business Services Division,” says Tucker. “They have created a dynamic, successful, creative and productive organization and can proudly serve as role models for any corporation aspiring to improve processes and operations."

The A&BS workforce numbers 1,406 employees in 38 departments, including Human Resources, Facilities Management, Campus Services, Public Safety, Purchasing, Utilities and Technical Support, and the Quality Service Initiative as well as contract employees from ARAMARK for campus food services and the Marriott staff at the Kingsgate Conference Hotel. The division budget reaches $144.4 million annually.

The Ohio Award for Excellence maintains a board of 150 examiners that evaluate the award applications, prepare critical applicant feedback reports and make award recommendations to its Board of Trustees. Examiners are experienced professionals and quality educators in the key sectors of government, education, health care, business and non-profit. The award criteria covers the areas of leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, information and analysis, workforce development, process management and the organizational results achieved. The award is open to all organizations in business, education, health care, government and not-for-profit sectors.

For additional information visit www.oae.org or call Michael DiMonte, OAE Executive Director at (330) 672-2102.

In addition to the Governor's Award, the A&BS division has won several other external awards this academic year. Grounds, Moving & Transportation won a Rumpke Recycling Community Award for its extensive recycling program and an Honor Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society in recognition of excellent grounds keeping. Purchasing and Materiel Management won the Award of Excellence in Procurement from the National Purchasing Institute.