2012 BEST PRACTICES AWARD PROGRAM

Program Purpose

In an effort to promote and recognize new approaches to problems facing college and university business operations, The CACUBO Best Practices Award Program showcases the best of college and university business officers' efforts in creating better, more efficient, and customer friendly business practices. Through this program, CACUBO wishes to share good ideas and new approaches within its membership institutions.

All Best Practice submissions are available online.

Submission deadline is February 1, 2012.

Program Description

Submission
Colleges and Universities business officers wishing to compete in the CACUBO Best Practices Award Program may submit a proposal by February 1, 2012. Interested parties should visit http://www.cacubo.org for submission guidelines. Questions? Please submit them to bestpractices@cacubo.org.

Awards
One finalist, based upon the proposal submitted, will be selected to present their “best practice” at the CACUBO Annual Meeting September 30 - October 2, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The participant/institution with the overall “best practice” will receive an honorarium of $1,000. Two runner-ups will receive $500 each.

Program Timeline
November Program Announcements to CACUBO Membership - Email Blast and Special Mailings to OACUBO, IACUBO, Big10 and Big12 and other college and university business officer organizations within CACUBO's region.
December CACUBO Newsletter Article
February 1, 2012 Submissions Due
February - March Evaluation Process
April Winner and Finalists Identified. Notification made to CACUBO Annual Meeting Committee
August Awards, Certificates produced. Presentations will be available online.
October CACUBO Annual Meeting. Award Presentations are made just prior to a General Session Speaker or at Annual Business Meeting
Questions? Christine A. Jackson
Vice Chancellor, Business and Finance
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
302 Canfield Administration Building
Lincoln, NE 68588-0425
Tel: 402-472-4455
FAX: 402-472-7963
Email: cjackson3@unl.edu

Guidelines for Submission

In order to be considered for the 2012 CACUBO Best Practices Award, each participant must submit a proposal providing detail of a best practice. One finalist, based upon the proposal submitted, will be selected to present their “best practice” at the CACUBO Annual Meeting September 30 - October 2, 2012 in Tucson, Arizona. The participant/institution with the overall “best practice” will receive an honorarium of $1,000. Two runner-ups will receive $500 each.

All Best Practice submissions will be available online.
Proposal Format Each proposal must be submitted via electronic mail as an attached Word document to CACUBO at, bestpractices@cacubo.org. Submission details are noted below.
Title Page

Each proposal must have a title page in bold 14 font (left justified). The author of the proposal should be listed directly under the title in bold 12 font. Beneath the author, with single spacing, list the institution or organization affiliation of the author. If there is more than one author, double-space, and follow the directions as listed with a single author.

Include the name, mailing address, telephone numbers, and email address of the primary author on the title page.
Abstract The abstract, or executive summary, should not exceed one page. This abstract is the first page of the proposal. It should be single-spaced and 12 font.
Introduction of the Organization Following the abstract, please introduce and describe the institution or organization that was benefited by the "best practice." This description may be as brief or as detailed as you like, but do this with double-spaced paragraph form in 12 font. Please do not simply list the information.
Statement (Restatement) of the Problem/Initiative Using double-spaced paragraph form (12 font), state (restate) the challenge that required correction or improvement.
Design

Using double-spaced paragraph form (12 font), describe the methodology used to develop the best practice initiative. There may be any number of tasks that were needed to develop your best practice. This information would be helpful if another institution would wish to pursue the same endeavor. Did the initiative require additional personnel, capital equipment purchases, or electronic systems solutions? What were the cost and/or budget ramifications? Please include any faculty, student, or administrative involvement required or solicited during the planning stage.
Implementation Using double-spaced paragraph form (12 font), describe the implementation process. Information that concerns the timeline, pitfalls, and issues is helpful to those interested in duplicating your best practice.
Benefits Using double-spaced paragraph form (12 font), discuss the benefits enjoyed by implementing the best practice. Cost savings, efficiencies, personnel performance improvements, student satisfaction or other benefits that occurred as a result of the best practice implementation.
Retrospect Using double-spaced paragraph form (12 font), discuss anything that might have been done differently. (If applicable).
Proposal Evaluation

Submissions will be evaluated by CACUBO member evaluators based on the following weighted criteria:

  • Submission guidelines. Did the writer follow required instruction? Grammar? Point value 0 - 10.  Weighted 5%.
  • Does the proposal address a problem common to higher education business practices? Will the solution benefit other institutions, or is it specific to the individual institution?  Point value 0 – 10. Weighted 15%.
  • Can the proposal be measured? Will/did the best practice reduce cost for the institution through actual cash savings, reduced employee turn-over, efficiencies, or in other areas? Point value 0 -10. Weighted 30%.
  • Was the best practice a single solution, or will it provide future institutional benefits? Point value 0 – 10. Weighted 25%.
  • If the best practice can be replicated at another institution, can/should similar results be expected? Point value 0 – 10. Weighted 25%.

Proposal Delivery and Deadline

 The deadline for submission is February 1, 2012. Each proposal must be submitted via electronic mail as an attached Word document to CACUBO at its website, http://www.cacubo.org. A "Best Practices Award Committee" link will be identified on CACUBO's home page.

Questions?

Questions regarding the program should be submitted to bestpractices@cacubo.org or by contacting:
Christine A. Jackson
Vice Chancellor, Business and Finance
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
302 Canfield Administration Building
Lincoln, NE 68588-0425
Tel: 402-472-4455
FAX: 402-472-3834
Email: cjackson3@unl.edu