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OR Innovation Awards

The Office for Research Innovation Awards (ORIA) program exemplifies the organization's commitment to fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement. This initiative honors staff whose innovative efforts have significantly impacted operations, partnerships, and community building. There is also an open category to recognize impactful innovations not covered by these first three areas, ensuring that any remarkable contribution can be recognized.

Thanks to those who attended the Aug. 19 awards ceremony!

Meet Inaugural Winners

Eligibility and Selection Process

  • Benefits-eligible staff, including postdocs, below the director level with at least one year of continuous employment at the university and no active disciplinary actions, are eligible for nomination. Individuals and teams may be nominated; teams must consist of two or more eligible staff and may be from different OR units.

  • Previous award winners may be nominated again, however individuals or teams may not win awards in consecutive years.

  • The OR Innovation Awards Committee will review all nominations and recommend winners to VPR.

Nominations

Complete a nomination form to recognize an individual staff member or team. There are no limitations on the number of nominations a staff member may submit or receive. Nominations should include:
  1. A clear description of the nominee's innovation and its significance.
  2. The impact and benefits of the innovation.
  3. How the innovation demonstrates excellence in one of the following categories:

Operations

Developed processes, tools or resources that substantially improved day-to-day operations, enhanced effectiveness and productivity, or resolved challenges

Partnerships

Created opportunities to make meaningful contributions and navigate institutional challenges through effective partnership-building

Community Building

Showed what can be achieved when we prioritize and promote our shared values

Open

Developed an innovative idea, process, or solution that has significantly improved our collective work or community, in a manner not addressed by the previous three categories

Awards

Winners will receive a cash prize. Team winners will share the award equally. All nominees and winners will be recognized by the VPR at an annual innovation awards event.