Employee Incentive Award Programs: 2024-2025

Read about employee incentive award programs and link to guidelines for eligibility and processing for 2024-2025.

Employee incentive awards recognize and reward excellence in university service. Incentive awards may be cash or noncash.

Taxable earnings: Cash awards of any amount and all cash-equivalent awards of $75 in value or greater are considered taxable earnings.

Payroll forms: See accounting guidelines and forms for requesting cash award checks and reporting the value of noncash awards for income tax purposes.

STAR Award Payment Authorization Forms can be submitted beginning September 10, 2024.  

• To submit an individual STAR Award please use the spreadsheet format in the link below. 
• UCSD STAR Award Payment Authorization Form-Multiple Recipients (Excel Template)
  • when using the excel template, please e-mail completed file to STAR Award Submission 
  • include in your e-mail Department Head/Chair or Business Officer approval 

Campus HR Payroll will be processing STAR Awards for each pay cycle. Please refer to the Campus HR Payroll deadline for each pay-period below. Deadlines for January-June 2025 will be available once the UCPath payroll processing calendar is published for calendar year 2025.

For details about the 2024-25 STAR Plan, see the campuswide the local guidelines (PDF), and consult with your vice chancellor office directly to see if they have additional information. Please note: this year's guidelines include the eligibility requirement: “Employee has successfully completed all required trainings.” People Leaders can verify training status the same way they do for the Staff Performance Appraisal.

Note: No amendments/changes to our local STAR Plan can be made.

*Health Sciences employees are part of a separate STAR Award Program: STAR Award program for Health Sciences employees.

Quick Reference Links:

• Non-Cash Awards Procedures
• Business & Financial Guideline G-41
• UC Systemwide Incentive and Recognition Award Plan