Winners announced: 2026 CU Innovation & Efficiency Awards
The Office of University Controller is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 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.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions across the CU system, this year’s five honorees demonstrate impactful solutions that streamline operations, elevate service and drive meaningful results for our campus communities.
University Controller’s Award for Excellence ($1,500 prize)
- Redesigned Research Studies Website Boosts Access and Engagement
A comprehensive redesign of the research studies website at CU Anschutz significantly improved usability and discoverability, making it easier for potential participants to find and enroll in studies. These enhancements led to increased participation and engagement, helping connect more individuals with research opportunities while streamlining study management for staff.
CU I&E Top Finalists ($1,000 prize each)
- AI-Augmented Personalized Feedback
This project at CU Boulder uses AI tools to generate faster, more tailored feedback while maintaining academic and professional quality standards. It enhances clarity, relevance, and overall value for students. - CU Denver | CU Anschutz Project Closeout Automation
This initiative automates complex research project closeout processes using a rules-based system that evaluates and completes eligible projects without manual intervention. It reduces backlogs, accelerates compliance and allows staff to focus on exceptions rather than repetitive administrative tasks. - Facilities Management Power Automation
By leveraging Microsoft Power Automate, this CU Anschutz project transforms manual, email- and form-based workflows into streamlined, automated processes for facilities operations. The solution reduces processing time, improves data accuracy and saves hundreds of staff hours annually while enhancing service delivery. - Financial Aid Batch Job Spreadsheet Automation
This CU system project replaces a manual, error-prone spreadsheet workflow by automating financial aid batch job tracking and processing. The solution increases reliability and significantly reduces staff time during high-volume processing periods.
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