ANNOUNCEMENT: UC Tech Awards 2025 applications now open through March 3 – APPLY NOW

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January 17, 2025All Articles

The application/nomination process for the UC Tech Awards Program [1], is now open through Monday, March 3, at 5 p.m. Apply/nominate a colleague to allow the UC Tech community to learn more about you and your work in support of digital transformation at UC and advancement of the UC Tech community. The application is a simple, two-step process:

  1. Download the application form in Word and complete it offline
  2. Upload your application to the application portal by Monday, March 3 at 5 p.m. (or by Friday February 14, for the opportunity to be entered in a drawing.)

This year, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council, sponsors of the UC Tech Awards Program, is happy to announce a new “AI Impact Award.” Also, they encourage applicants from past years to consider applying again, as many winners from recent years had applied one time before winning the subsequent year. 

All applications will be published online, and winners will be celebrated at the UC Tech Awards ceremony dinner on Thursday, June 26, at UC Riverside. One complimentary UC Tech Conference pass will be awarded per winner/winning team.

Start your application/nomination today.

1. Download application form
2. Upload application to portal

uc tech award deadlines - March 3 application deadline, March17 judging results announced, June 26 awards ceremony dinner at UC Tech conference, at UCR

Benefits of participating

  1. All applicants will have their application/nomination read by Chief Information Officers (CIOs).
  2. Winners will be invited to attend the UC Tech Awards ceremony, and one complimentary UC Tech Conference pass will be awarded to each winner/winning team.
  3. Winners will receive professional awards ceremony photos.
  4. All applicants will have their application/nomination published online.
  5. Winning nominations will be prioritized for publication in the UC Tech News.
  6. All applicants will be invited to participate in networking events to meet colleagues and others interested in their work.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. The project must be operational and have been implemented within the last three (3) years.
  2. Individuals or teams, including those who were equally involved in significant projects
  3. Staff and faculty employed by the University of California
  4. Any technology-centered functions, including technology, research, academic and business support units
  5. Those working in cross-location and cross-functional teams are encouraged to participate

Selection Criteria

The UC CIO Council selection committee* selects one golden and one silver award for each category, based on the following criteria. Additional detail regarding criteria can be found below (see footnote [4]).

  1. Complexity – How complex was/were the problem(s) addressed?
  2. Impact – How impactful was the work – number of individuals, systems or processes impacted; the depth of impact; and/or might it be a novel solution that could be implemented by others at UC?
  3. Mission alignment – How effectively does the work advance the university’s mission or key values of access, affordability and excellence?

UC Tech Annual Awards Categories for 2025

The awards recognize individuals, teams or project teams, as specified below. This year there is a new, “AI Impact” category.

1. AI Impact Award – This award honors a team for developing an AI solution that exemplifies value creation. Their work addresses a unique use case, solving a business challenge effectively while upholding UC AI Principles, including transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy and non-discrimination.

2. DEI Leadership Award – Recognizes the leadership of an individual or team in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in technical communities, as demonstrated by specific tactics to create vehicles that improve visibility, access and engagement of underrepresented populations.

3. Design Award – The award is given to an individual or team that transformed one or more touch points through the application of various design disciplines (e.g., visual design, interaction design, user experience (UX) design, customer experience (CX) design and/or industrial design) to improve usability and/or create a more elegant experience for everyone, including people with disabilities.

4. Larry L. Sautter Award for Innovation in Information Technology – The award is
given to an individual or a team for having implemented an innovative technology initiative that has had significant impact on the university’s academic/research mission, student life, business operations, patient care, or public service mission. Innovation is defined as the new application of technology, the creative use of limited resources, or an emphasis on collaboration to solve a problem.

5. IT Security Award – The award is given to an individual or team that advanced IT security at the University of California through awareness and training, policy, technical controls, and/or IT security hygiene. Projects that intersect with legal, privacy, and compliance are eligible.

6. Mojgan A. Amini Operational Excellence Award – The award is given to an individual or team that transformed a business process (via reliability, speed, scale, efficiency, and/or effectiveness), whether through business process design, automation, customer service, digital transformation, or another initiative.

7. Sustained Impact Award (for individuals only) – The award is given to an individual who, over time, has contributed significant expertise, passion, and commitment to the university as evidenced by a portfolio of work supporting the technology arena.

8. Yvonne Tevis UC Collaboration Award – The award is given to an individual or team that conducted a strong collaborative technology initiative across two or more UC locations, across a UC campus and UC health system, and/or with other UC partners.

Learn more about the UC Tech Awards Program application & nomination process

Join the many community members who provide valuable feedback during one or both of these info sessions.

2025 UC Tech Awards webinar/info-session schedule:

  1. Friday, January 24, 2025, 3:30-4 p.m. [Zoom registration link]
  2. Monday, February 3, 2025, 9-9:30 a.m. [Zoom registration link]
  3. Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 4-4:30 p.m. [Zoom registration link]

FAQs

  1. Do I /we apply for an “individual” or “team” award? The CIO Council welcomes individuals to apply. If the individual is the leader of a project team, that individual can acknowledge those who worked on the project with them in their application and during the awards ceremony, but the focus will be on the individual leader. On the other hand, if project teams would like to apply as a group, they are also welcomed to do so.
  2. How far back in time can I submit projects? If you chose to recognize a project team, the project must be operational and have been implemented within the last three (3) years.
  3. Is there a limit on the number submissions for one individual or team? For 2025, we encourage applicants to choose one category for their submission. The judges may reserve the right to change the category, if needed, to support visibility of the nominees.
  4. Where can I see winning applications from prior years? Please visit this article on recent winners and all applications, or view UC Records, with all applications/nominations since 2001.
  5. Is there a template for me to email my team or post on social media to promote the UC Tech Awards Program? Yes, each year, the UC Tech Awards Committee creates a UC Tech Awards Program marketing/media kit. This kit includes examples of emails and other formats for your communications needs.
  6. More questions? Join a UC Tech Awards application webinar/info-session, or contact Laurel.Skurko@UCOP.edu.

Resources

Contact

Laurel Skurko, Marketing & Communications, IT Services, UC Office of the President
Laurel Skurko
UC Tech Awards Program Director
UC Office of the President

[1] The UC Tech Awards Program celebrates individuals and teams in the UC Tech community who have contributed to areas of strategic importance to the university. The CIO Council created the program in 2001 when an innovation award was named after Larry L. Sautter. The program has grown to eight (8) awards ranging from design, IT security to diversity, equity and inclusion and AI initiatives. Learn more about the 2024 UC Tech Awards Program winners, and see all nominations.

[2] The UC Tech Conference is an annual event for members of the UC Tech community, who are tech employees at the university. At this conference, about three days in length, members of the UC Tech community gather to attend educational workshops, networking and more. It happens one time each year and rotates UC locations. In 2024, it was hosted at UC Davis. Learn more about the UC Tech 2024 Conference here.

[3] UC CIO Council’s Selection Committee is composed of several members of the CIO Council, who rotate annually. The committee determines the award winners on the basis of submitted materials and in accordance with the selection criteria (specified below – see footnote [4])

[4] Selection Criteria – Judges will base their scores on the following conditions:

  1. Complexity: How complex was/were the problem(s) addressed? Evaluate the level of complexity involved in addressing the problem(s). Higher complexity scores should emphasize the unique challenges and distinguishing aspects that set the application apart from other initiatives. Consider factors such as technical difficulties, coordination of multiple stakeholders, integration of diverse components, innovative approaches, and navigating complex relationships. Assess how effectively the project or individual addresses intricate problems, overcomes obstacles, and generates innovative solutions. This criterion also examines the expertise, adaptability, and resourcefulness demonstrated in managing and delivering results in a complex environment within UC, the location, or the representing department/unit.
  2. Impact: How impactful was the work – number of individuals, systems or processes impacted; the depth of impact; and/or might it be a novel solution that could be implemented by others at UC? Evaluate the extent of the work’s impact, considering both the number of individuals affected and the depth of impact. Assess the positive and measurable outcomes or results that the project or individual has achieved or is expected to achieve. Emphasize the significance and effectiveness of the work in addressing a specific problem or meeting a particular need. Highlight the tangible benefits, transformative changes, or contributions brought about by the project or individual’s efforts. Consider the extent to which the work has made a meaningful and lasting difference.
  3. Mission/Value Alignment: Does the work advance the university’s mission or key values of access, affordability, and excellence? Mission/Value Alignment: Evaluate the extent to which the work contributes to the strategic direction and/or operational goals of the university. Alignment should demonstrate that the work is in line with the values, priorities, and desired outcomes of the award. Higher rankings should emphasize the creation of meaningful and impactful outcomes that align with the values and objectives of UC, the location, and/or the representing department/unit.