Systemwide Human Resources: UCOP Human Resources
STAR Program: FAQs
- Who can approve a STAR Award?
- What’s the process for requesting a STAR Award?
- If I want to request an award for a team or workgroup, should I complete a separate request form for each individual?
- Is there a deadline for requesting a STAR Award?
- Once a request is approved, when can an employee expect to receive payment of a STAR award?
- How will employees be notified if they are going to receive a STAR award?
- Can I give an award to an employee who works in another department? What approvals are required?
- What is the fund source for STAR awards?
All STAR Plan cash award nominations require endorsement of the employee’s immediate supervisor and approvals based on the cash award, as follows:
|
Approvers |
Cash Award |
|---|---|
| Department Manager or Sub-Division Head | Up to $750.00 with no additional approvals |
| Division Head (or designee) | $1,000.00 and up |
| UCOP Chief Human Resources Officer | $751.00 and up |
| Executive Director, UCOP Operations | $2,000.00 and up |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
$2,501.00 and up |
Access HR ServiceNow to submit a nomination. Include a brief description of the specific reason for the nomination and the applicable COA numbers. UCOP HR will route the nomination to the required approvers.. Awards are limited to a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $5000. Requests should not be sent directly to HR Payroll; requests sent directly to HR Payroll will be returned to the sender.
- If I want to request an award for a team or workgroup, should I complete a separate request form for each individual?
Yes.
STAR awards may be presented at any time during the fiscal year and should be awarded as soon as possible after the accomplishment or event in order to provide immediate recognition to employees.
STAR awards will be processed as they are approved and paid in the next regular paycheck. Timing is subject to payroll deadlines. STAR awards are considered taxable income, but they are not covered compensation under the UC Retirement Plan. STAR awards will not be issued as separate, off-cycle checks.
After awards are approved, they are forwarded to HR Payroll for processing. HR will provide a notification letter template to the nominator, which can then be completed and given to the employee.
Yes, in order to request an award for an employee in another department, the nominator should first obtain approval from the employee’s immediate supervisor to confirm the employee has a ‘solid performance’ rating and is otherwise eligible.
Approvals will be based on the cash award.
There will be no central source of funding for the program, so awards must be paid from existing division and department budgets. Unrestricted fund sources (mainly assessment funds) may be used for STAR Awards. The use of restricted funds is subject to any restrictions on those funds.