2025 CU Innovation & Efficiency Award winners announced

The Office of University Controller is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 CU Innovation & Efficiency (CU I&E) Awards Program. These projects exemplify the spirit of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement that drives the University of Colorado forward.

After a competitive review of outstanding submissions from across the CU system, five projects have been selected for recognition. Each demonstrates a powerful commitment to streamlining operations, enhancing service and delivering measurable impact.

University Controller’s Award for Excellence ($1,500 Prize)

• Sustainability in Simulation Operations
  This standout project at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus promotes environmental responsibility by recycling, repackaging and repurposing plastic materials used in health care simulation training. By reusing items like Foley catheter bags and educating staff and students on sustainable practices, the team has significantly reduced waste and advanced CU’s sustainability goals.

CU I&E Top Finalists ($1,000 Prize Each)

• Change of Major/Minor Automated Robot Process
  A collaboration between the CU Boulder College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Registrar, this project automated the major/minor declaration process, eliminating paper forms and manual data entry. The result: improved student communication and increased staff productivity.
• Decreasing Clinical Research Startup Time
  At the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the CTRC Study Startup Dashboard has transformed clinical research operations by reducing nursing order finalization time by over 50%. This custom-built tool enhances regulatory compliance, patient safety and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• On Time, On Budget: The Key to Award Management Success
  This centralized award management system at CU Anschutz automates the research funding lifecycle — from proposal to closeout — ensuring compliance, accuracy and timely reporting. It has eliminated missed deadlines and improved support for researchers.
• Research Cores, Rewired: The Case for Automation with Tools You Already Own
  By leveraging tools like Qualtrics and Microsoft Dataverse, this CU Anschutz project automated operations in a research core facility, streamlining quotes, invoicing and data tracking. The result: reduced administrative burden and more time for high-impact scientific work.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Your creativity and dedication continue to inspire innovation across the CU system.

To learn more about the CU I&E Awards Program and explore all finalist projects, visit the CU I&E Awards website.

— Office of University Controller