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Staff member gives a speech at OHIO's Administrative Service Awards ceremony
Employee Innovation and Efficiency Awards

Employee Innovation and Efficiency Awards

ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ employees have good ideas that they put into practice every day, saving the University time and resources. The ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Employee Innovation & Efficiency Awards Program is designed to recognize these practices.

Eligibility

  • What can be submitted?

    Submissions may include ideas for innovations, tools, strategies, or process improvements that support the performance of any University organizational unit, resulting in efficiencies (including savings of time or money), improved customer service, or otherwise enhanced operations. The idea should result in significant institutional savings of over $2000.

  • Who is eligible to win an award?

    Full-time, active employees of the University. Employees may submit as individuals or as members of an identified team. In the case of group submissions, group members will share in any cash prize that may be awarded.

Selection Process

  • How are submissions judged?

    Submissions are reviewed by the Office of the President, who will contact the submitter with any questions, and then by the ÃÛèÖÊÓƵ Innovation and Efficiency Selection Committee,  consisting of the VP Human Resources, VP Finance and Administration, Chief of Staff to the President and Chief of Staff to the Provost, which will determine if the submissions meet program criteria.

  • How will funds be awarded?

    Individuals whose ideas are accepted will receive an award of up to $1,000. Teams will share an award of up to $2,000. Awards will follow the practices outlines in Policy 40.011.

Award Criteria Guidelines

Submissions will be evaluated based on a weighted set of criteria, with awards scaled to reflect the level of contribution. The review committee will consider both measurable cost savings and enhancements that improve how we work, serve, or operate as a university. We are looking for ideas that strengthen and help move OHIO forward—whether through creative solutions, streamlined processes, smarter use of resources, or new approaches that make a noticeable difference. All ideas are welcome; we encourage submissions that offer a clear and meaningful benefit to the Dynamic Strategy and the University’s mission. 

Important Notes

  • Submissions must not propose actions that conflict with university policies, applicable laws, or the well-being of any member of the university community.
  • No idea may be implemented or acted upon until it has received formal approval from the review committee. 
  • Financial Impact (40%) 
    Demonstrated or projected cost savings, revenue generation, or cost avoidance.
  • Operational Efficiency (25%) 
    Improvements in time savings, workflow optimization, or reduction or redundancy and/or manual effort which results in cost savings.
  • Recurring or Sustained Impact (20%) 
    Potential for ongoing, repeatable benefits versus one-time improvements.
  • Innovation & Replicability (15%) 
    Originality of the idea and potential for replication or scalability across units. 

Additional Considerations

  • Feasibility and likelihood of successful implementation
  • The scope of impact (individual, departmental, or university-wide) 

Review Process

The committee will apply these criteria to ensure all decisions reflect the program’s values and intent.  

  • Awards of up to $1,000 for individual recipients
  • Awards of up to $2,000 to be shared among group recipients
  • Awards may be granted on a sliding scale based on the level of impact:
    • Tier 1: Transformational ideas with broad, university-wide impact
    • Tier 2: Departmental or cross-functional improvements
    • Tier 3: Localized or individual innovations with measurable benefit 

Employees are invited to submit proposals for the University Employee Innovation and Efficiency Awards program. Proposals should clearly describe the idea, its intended benefits, and how it aligns with the evaluation criteria outlined in this document.

Submissions for the first review cycle are being accepted now through December 31. The review committee will evaluate proposals in January, and results will be announced in February.

Following this initial cycle, reviews will occur quarterly. Specific submission windows and review dates will be communicated in advance for each cycle.

To submit a proposal, employees should use the following Qualtrics form. The form will guide you through the required fields, including a description of the idea, its potential benefits, and any supporting documentation. 

 

Awards Timeline

Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and those who submit ideas will receive a response within 90 days of their original submission. In some cases, a follow up presentation to the review committee may be necessary. President's Cabinet will assign project teams as needed to move selected proposals from idea into action.