Congratulations to Talent Performance & Relations for taking home the First Place Trophy in the fourth annual Human Resources Great Pumpkin Contest!
The competition was fierce this year, with each HR department bringing its own flair and unique design. We applaud the enthusiasm and artistry shown by all participating teams and look forward to making next year's contest another spooktacular success! Check out all of the 2025 awards below...
The HR Employee Excellence Awards Program recognize UAB Human Resources staff members for their exceptional contributions to the department and to UAB as a whole. Awards are presented annually in four categories aligned with the UAB Shared Values — two staff awards, a team award and a leadership award. HR staff are invited to submit nominations throughout the year; awards are presented each spring during the annual HR Service Awards reception.
Submit a Nomination
Select a category below to submit a nomination.
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Driving Change Award
The Driving Change Award is given to a staff member who has generated valuable ideas and used these ideas to develop new or improved processes, methods, systems, programs or services. The award recognizes creative ideas that have improved HR. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Identified strategies that are in the best interests of HR
- Looked for creative approaches to provide/improve services that increase efficiency and effectiveness or developed a solution to a difficult existing problem, through a new method or approach
- Suggested and worked toward implementation of new services, programs and/or systems
Download the Driving Change nomination form, save as a PDF and submit via the "Submit a Nomination" link below.
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Service Excellence Award
The Service Excellence Award is to recognize a staff member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve co-workers and/or members of the UAB community. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Provided outstanding service to their specific department or division
- Showed willingness to assist beyond normal expectations
- Sought ways to continuously improve satisfaction and remove barriers when providing services to members of the university community
- Anticipated clients' needs and potential problems before they occurred
Download the Service Excellence nomination form, save as a PDF and submit via the "Submit a Nomination" link below. -
Collaboration Award
The Collaboration Award is to recognize a collection of individuals who exemplifies collaboration and cooperation. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Worked positively and productively with other team members towards a shared goal
- Developed and demonstrated cooperation and collaboration, while displaying outstanding group effort
- Consistently offered support, assistance and encouragement to co‐workers
- Demonstrated significant contribution to success of UAB and achieved outcome(s)
Download the Collaboration nomination form, save as a PDF and submit via the "Submit a Nomination" link below. -
Outstanding Leadership Award
The Outstanding Leadership Award is given to a manager, director, executive director or unit lead who exemplifies significant leadership skills such as the ability to lead and guide staff, develop staff talents and successfully manage an efficient and effective unit at the highest level; has promoted teamwork and collaboration across HR and the UAB community; has worked quietly behind the scenes to improve his or her unit and HR as a whole; and who has consistently done so with a positive attitude. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated a combination of the following:
- Demonstrates a high level of initiative, responsibility and resourcefulness within HR or the UAB community
- Develops trust and credibility through open, respectful communication
- Provides a sense of purpose, vision and mission for their co‐workers and/or staff by investing time and effort in developing others
- Positively influences others to build consensus in group, departmental or organizational settings
- Manages and/or champions change effectively through formal or informal leadership
Download the Outstanding Leadership nomination form, save as a PDF and submit via the "Submit a Nomination" link below.
An outside selection committee will review and score submissions for category based on the criteria listed above, and will make award recommendations to the CHRO. If an employee wins an award, he/she is not eligible to win an award the following year.
HR Employee Excellence Award Winners
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021
After retiring from UAB, former employees often find themselves starting their new chapter right where they left off. Retirees have institutional knowledge, research resources and Blazer pride that make them an asset to UAB. Through the Retiree Resources Program, UAB Human Resources provides retirees with tools to make their next chapter successful including Temp Services openings, volunteer opportunities, UAB retiree organizations and other services available within the UAB network. Explore a complete list of resources for retirees below.
UAB's Retiree Resources Program fully complies with all TRS and State of Alabama ethics guidelines.
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Temp Services Opportunities
If you would like to be considered for short-term assignments at UAB, please click on the UAB Retiree Skills Repository button to complete the professional skills form. Please note, the information you share will be entered into a database and HR Temporary Services will be given search access.
- For guidance related to limits on annual salary or amount of hours you can work annually without penalty, please refer to the TRS handbook.
- For information on returning to work at UAB post-retirement and the Revolving Door Provision of the Alabama Ethics Law, please refer to the UAB Retirement FAQs page.
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Volunteer Opportunities
UAB and the surrounding community offer a wide range of meaningful volunteer opportunities. Your involvement in UAB volunteer activities not only provides service to UAB, it provides opportunities to stay in contact with the campus and students, as well as establish and maintain collegial relationships with other retirees.
UAB Volunteer Opportunities
- UAB Health System Volunteer Services: The Department of Volunteer Services is committed to providing UAB with reliable and compassionate volunteers throughout the hospital.
- Alys Stephens Center: Volunteers form a vital part of the Alys Stephens Center. During the year, there are hundreds of events at the ASC that depend on generous volunteers.
Community Volunteer Opportunities
- Hands on Birmingham: Hands On Birmingham's mission is to connect people with organized and meaningful volunteer opportunities to improve their community. All it takes is ONE hour, ONE day, ONE month to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
- United Way of Central Alabama: United Way of Central Alabama strives to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another and to improve their community.
- Children's of Alabama: Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children across the state and throughout the southeastern U.S. since 1911.
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UAB Retiree Organizations
Looking for a great way to stay involved and connect with fellow UAB retirees? Become a member of an UAB retiree organization.
- New Horizons at UAB: New Horizons at UAB is a community group of men and women of retirement age that organizes lectures and other activities centered around issues important to the aging community, as well as general interest topics.
- UAB Retirees Association: The UABRA is an independent, self-governing membership organization the purpose of which primarily is to serve and promote the interests and welfare of persons retired from the faculty and staff of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and secondarily to support the institutional goals of UAB.
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Additional Retiree Resources
See below for additional services UAB retirees may take advantage of within the UAB network.
- UAB Training & Seminars: If you have recently retired, you can take advantage of training classes offered by UAB Organizational Learning & Development for up to one year after retirement. Twice a year, OL&D offers a class titled "Retirement: A New Life Planning Program." Check the course catalog for schedule.
- Employee Assistance & Counseling Center: UAB EACC is designed to provide employees and retirees with resources for resolving problems. Services include confidential counseling, community referral, supervisor consultation, crisis management, financial planning and a variety of educational programs.
- Center for Aging: The UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging is an interdisciplinary community that promotes the health and wellbeing of older adults and their families through research, education and communication, specialty care, community programs, and informing public policy.
- UAB Recreation Center: With flexible membership options, UAB retirees can take advantage of all the ways the Campus Recreation Center offers something for everybody. Affordable rates connect you to its one-of-a-kind advantages, plus the priceless reward of a healthier lifestyle.
- Teachers Retirement System: To answer your questions related to retirement benefits, please go to rsa-al.gov, or call the RSA Contact Center at 334-517-7000, or toll free at 877-517-0020.
HR Updates
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Deadline to file annual ethics report is April 30
As a public institution, UAB employees who meet certain criteria are required by the state of Alabama to complete an annual Statement of Economic Interests Form. As required by law, the UAB Human Resources provides the Alabama Ethics Commission...
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Deadline approaching for UAB’s Premium Assistance Program
The Premium Assistance Program is designed to ease the cost of medical premiums for benefits-eligible employees whose total combined household income, based on family size, is at or below twice the federal poverty level (see 2026 Premium Assistance Income...
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HRIS launches Empower U to provide employees real-time support for administrative systems
The HR Information Systems (HRIS) team is launching HRIS Empower U, a new weekly Zoom session designed to give employees real‑time help with administrative systems — no ticket submission required. Each Wednesday from 10-11 a.m., participants can...
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Reminder: Employees can review job title, pay grades and pay rates anytime in Oracle
Employees can use Self-Service Applications in the Oracle HR and Finance Administrative System at any time to review and verify current job titles, pay grades and pay rates. Self-service stations are available in the UAB Administration Building...
