SU wins Donlon Spirit of Excellence Award for worklife policies

SU wins Donlon Spirit of Excellence Award for worklife policiesApril 30, 2003Cynthia J. Moritzcjmoritz@syr.edu

Syracuse University has won the Donlon Spirit of Excellence Award presented at the United Way’s sixth annual Success By 6 Donlon Awards Breakfast on April 23. The award recognizes and honors an institution for its excellence in workplace policies.

“It is quite an honor to be recognized by the Donlon Spirit of Excellence Award,” says Neil Strodel, associate vice president for human resources. “The judges understand that leadership is only part of the equation and that our WorkLife Advisory Committee and various Senate committees that contributed to our ideas and process are responsible for our continued success on the journey to a great work environment at Syracuse University.”

Representatives of SU’s Human Resources Department accepted the award on behalf of the WorkLife Advisory Committee, the Senate Services Committee, the Senate Women’s Concerns Committee and others, all of whom helped shape the many programs for which the University was recognized. The judges believed that the University exemplifies the best of what an institution is capable of implementing due to the strong motivation of its leadership. Highlighted benefits included on-site childcare, a WorkLife Center, Fair Wage Initiative, paid maternity leave, flexible spending accounts, same-sex domestic partner benefits, adoption assistance, employee tuition benefits and a dependent tuition program.

The award is named for William Donlon, former CEO of Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and the first Success By 6 chair, who believed employers can play an important role in the community’s effort to support its youngest children by offering parents benefits that allow them to balance work and family responsibilities.