High Fives are easy to give — simply go to the Organizational Excellence webpage, click “Give a High Five” and fill out the form. Your message will be delivered straight to the recipient's inbox, and they will be acknowledged weekly in Campus News.

Click here to read about how the program began. Continue below to read about how your colleagues are going above and beyond to help the campus community.

(Note: Campus News edited comments only for misspellings and missing or incomplete words. They appear mostly as written for each employee.)

Goes Above & Beyond

Facilities Management
The Facilities Management team has worked above and beyond to help get the Smittcamp Alumni House facility ready to serve our campus community. They have been responsive to our requests, creative in their solutions and willing to do what is needed to get the job done. I am truly grateful for their guidance, communication, training and patience.

James Herrin, Technology Services
I had mentioned an issue on an application, but it wasn’t very pressing. While I’m sure James was busy with other tasks, he went to work on solving the issue and redeployed the application the same day. Thank you, James!

Jeff Colvin, Technology Services
Thanks, Jeff, for going above and beyond! Your work is appreciated.

Juan Solis, Technology Services
A big thank you to Juan for always coming to the rescue when it comes to DocuSign. I can always count on him for help. I appreciate his help with my last-minute requests. He's prompt, kind, supportive and very patient. He is an excellent co-worker. He goes above and beyond and I appreciate him very much!

Sarah Confer, Human Resources
Since being relocated to Human Resources in January from another department, I had to learn new processes, documents and information. Sarah has helped with my training and my questions every day. She is always quick to answer my questions and find time to help. Sarah has a lot of responsibility in the department but makes time for me when I need her help. She has been a tremendous support and encouragement. I do not know many others who would be as patient with my daily questions as Sarah has been. She is truly a kind and generous person.

Principles of Community

Erica Lassen, University Registrar
Throughout her tenure on campus, Erica has consistently served as an inspiration and model of what it means to boldly empower students and student success. While course articulation wouldn't be the first thing that comes to mind for most when considering what is critical for "academic achievement," the impact that her tireless advocacy has had on students, especially those who transfer, is undeniable and cannot be overstated. She is an advocate for the transfer student population on campus, often being the first to bring up the unique needs of a population that is too often forgotten.

As articulation officer and through her work with assist.org and related areas, Erica ensures that students who plan to transfer to Fresno State, or even continuing students who want to take a "bottleneck" course over the summer at a junior college, have accurate and updated information on course equivalents for both major and GE requirements. She is quick to address any issue and always willing to provide clear explanations or suggestions whenever an issue is encountered. Erica models the collaborative principle by making sure both she and any of the resources she manages are available for advisors, as well, which make such an impact on the ability of others to benefit student success.

Erica's impact extends beyond just her role as articulation officer, however. On numerous committees related to curriculum and general education she is always present and active and reminds others to consider how small changes can have large impacts on groups like transfers. In working to check new curriculum proposals she ensures that campus curriculum is fair and equitable for all students, meaning that students will not be negatively impacted by hidden requirements or other unknowns. Overall, the critical work that Erica does ensures that students know exactly what they need, and in that pursuit her work makes the whole campus curriculum more accessible, often saving staff time and students both time and money.

Erica truly exemplifies what it means to empower our students, and her efforts are noticed and appreciated.

Pearl Fraijo, Social Work
"WE ARE RESPECTFUL" — Pearl is always careful with her words and checks for understanding.

"WE ARE KIND" — Pearl goes out of her way to ensure all of the students, faculty and staff know that they are supported as part of the Title IV-E Team within the Department of Social Work Education. She's good at checking in with people to let them know they are appreciated and to compliment them for their efforts.

"WE ARE COLLABORATIVE" — She works well as a team member and is always inclusive of others. She acknowledges the contributions of others almost to the point of downplaying her own role, which is why I want to make sure she is recognized. She works hard to make sure the Title IV-E office runs smoothly. I really appreciate her efforts.

Provided Excellent Customer Service

Hope Hardwick, Facilities Management
Hope is the best! She is easy to reach and get help when needed. She works well with many departments on campus to keep us up and running smoothly. Hope is truly a nice person all the way around to work with!

Lana Korol, Admissions
Thank you, Lana, for working collaboratively with many departments to ensure our University reporting was clean and ready to submit to the CO office. I appreciate the passion you have for your work!

Michael Gillette Berg, Technology Services
When I returned to campus after being away for 18 months, I found myself locked out of the desktop computer in my office. I couldn't remember the password. I had been trying for the past several weeks and finally gave up and called Technology Services today. Michael responded right away. But when he came to my office to help me log in, we discovered my computer wasn't the typical setup. All of the normal protocols didn't work. Michael didn't give up and he didn't get frustrated. He was kind and patient, and after about an hour, he got in, and I was able to reset my password. I know this may sound like a minor deal, but his humor, professionalism, and problem-solving capabilities stood out. He deserves a huge high five and much more. Thanks, Michael!

Victoria Walter, Facilities Management
Victoria works closely with the Richter Center to coordinate the on-campus blood drives in North Gym 118. She ensures the room is set up to meet our unique needs and requests. During the event she responds promptly to any issues or needs we have, while being professional and timely. I appreciate that she communicates with members of her team thoroughly to make sure the room is cool for blood donors and the doors are open for us. She does her job with joy and provides excellent service to our office.

Saved My Bacon!

Tanis Matlock-Elder, Dean of Students Office
Tanis came in the clutch and worked through a problem to find a solution. Thank you, Tanis!