Nominations for faculty and staff recognition open every fall for awards that take place in the following spring semester at the Celebrating Spartans: Honoring Faculty and Staff event. The upcoming awards ceremony will take place on April 8, 2026; nominations are due early November 2025. Nomation criteria and submission processes vary for each award type. Visit each respective page below to learn more.

Celebrating Spartans Faculty Awards

The San José State University Academic Senate and the Office of the President kindly request nominations for the 2025-2026 Faculty Awards, as provided by University Policy S13-6. Please review the nomination criteria for each of the awards and complete and submit the nomination form via Google Form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The awards ceremony will take place April 8, 2026.

Faculty Award Categories

• Outstanding Lecturer Award
• Distinguished Service Award
• Outstanding Professor Award
• President's Scholar Award

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Celebrating Spartans Staff Awards

The San José State University Staff Council and the Office of the President honor twelve outstanding staff members in four staff award categories annually at the Celebrating Spartans: Honoring Faculty and Staff. Deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. on Friday, November 21, 2025. The deadline is extended past the orignal November 7 deadline. The awards ceremony will take place April 8, 2026.

Paper nomination forms available at Housing front desks, FD&O (Corporation Yard Building A, across from the North Parking Garage) and Washington Square Hall (WSQ) room 215. Email questions to staff-awards-group@sjsu.edu or call (408) 924-5829.

Staff Award Categories

• Outstanding Staff of the Year - Exemplary SJSU staff member or auxiliary staff member who has made a valuable contribution to the campus.
• Distinguished Services Award - SJSU staff member an auxiliary staff member who has worked for SJSU for more than 10 years and has displayed a commitment to excellent service to the campus community.
• Spartan Spirit Award - SJSU staff member, manager, or auxiliary employee who displays exceptional Spartan spirit and pride.
• Critical Employee Award - To honor an SJSU staff member or an auxiliary staff member who are shining behind the scenes to support our campus.

Nomination Process

The nomination form is posted annually in September/October. You can review the award criteria and nomination questions below.

• Staff Award Nomination Form 2025-2026
• Staff Award Criteria
• Staff Award Nomination Questions
• Staff Award Paper Nomination Form