June 17, 2026

The Office of University Controller is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 CU Innovation & Efficiency (CU I&E) Awards:

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 this year's winners and to all the finalists, whose projects demonstrate unique creativity and dedication. To learn more about the CU I&E Awards Program and explore all finalist projects, visit the CU I&E Awards website. 

We look forward to seeing the innovative projects employees will share in next year's program!