The Appreciation Approach
We all want to be appreciated for who we are and for what we do. It makes us feel good to know others appreciate us. Taking the time to actually say "thank you" for all the hard work college faculty and staff put in each and every day can go a long way in conveying your gratitude. But there are countless other ways to recognize and honor them collectively and individually for their contributions to the campus community.
Of course, offering a well-deserved gesture of appreciation also makes us feel good. But did you realize that saying thanks may also impact your chapter's success in unexpected ways?
Faculty and staff recognition activities are perfect opportunities to increase campus and community awareness of your chapter. Invite campus and community media representatives to attend any newsworthy recognition ceremonies. Take photos of your honorees and submit with articles or press releases following events or awards presentations.
Even better, faculty and staff recognition can also lead to increased membership acceptance in your chapter. Students are 12 times more likely to accept the invitation to membership if they hear about Phi Theta Kappa from their college professor, so provide information about Phi Theta Kappa during your faculty and staff recognition activities.
The Phi Theta Kappa informational flyer for college faculty, available at www.ptk.org/chapters, provides information about the benefits of membership. Distribute the flyer to those honored by your chapter. Attach a list of currently eligible students, and ask faculty to encourage their students to work toward earning membership.
Recognizing your college faculty and staff members not only makes them feel good about their work and encourages their future support of your chapter, but it also can be a great opportunity to garner positive publicity for the chapter and involve more students on campus.
Ideas to Honor College Faculty and Staff
- Host an appreciation breakfast or luncheon and ask chapter members to contribute baked goods, snacks, candy and drinks. The chapter at Holmes Community College in Mississippi recognized faculty and staff members by hosting a breakfast in the faculty lounge on campus. Orange juice, doughnuts, Chik-Fil-A, cheese cubes, and fresh fruit were served. All faculty and staff members were notified by invitations. "The majority of our faculty and staff participated, and really appreciated the effort Phi Theta Kappa exhibited to make their morning a little brighter," said Sara Balch, chapter president and Central District Vice President for the Mississippi/Louisiana Region.
- Each month, recognize a staff or faculty member for their individual efforts. Award them with a certificate including their name and photo, and display the certificate in the faculty lounge or in a central location on campus.
- To get back into the swing of a new school year or semester, surprise your faculty and staff with bags of candy or other small tokens of appreciation, such as bookmarks, key rings or video rental certificates.
- Recognize anniversary dates. Send a handwritten note of congratulations and thanks for each year of service.
- Plant trees or flowers in public areas on campus in honor of a faculty or staff member.
- Induct a faculty or staff member who has shown exceptional support of the chapter as an honorary member or present them with a Phi Theta Kappa certificate of appreciation. The chapter at Guam Community College found success in bestowing honorary membership upon individuals for their support. "We have awarded honorary memberships to two college presidents and a founding advisor," said Erica Chong, chapter president.
- Pay tribute to a faculty or staff member with the purchase of a commemorative Phi Theta Kappa brick. Bricks naming your honorees will become a permanent part of the Alpha Courtyard at the Center for Excellence. Learn more at www.ptk.org/foundation/f_alpha.htm.
