RESOURCE: UC Tech Awards program description and application form

The UC Tech Awards Program, sponsored by the UC CIO Council, celebrates the achievements of UC employees in creating high-impact technology initiatives that drive digital transformation. A key source of innovation, the program promotes increased engagement that allows the community to learn from one another across a range of disciplines, including IT, research, academics, patient care and business. All applicants are profiled in a press release and included in networking events throughout the year that help foster connection and drive synergies and growth. Winners receive formal recognitions in an awards ceremony, press releases and more. The CIO Council is immensely grateful to the teams across 30+ locations who take the time to share their progress with them and the community at large.

Background Information

The UC CIO Council sponsors the program each year and selects awardees based on the complexity, impact and mission alignment of their work affecting digital transformation. The awards provide university-wide recognition for technology efforts of strategic importance that advance the university’s mission of teaching, research, public service, and patient care; and/or improve the effectiveness of business operations.

The UC Tech Awards program has been an integral part of the UC Tech Conference since 2001, when we created the Larry L. Sautter Award for Innovation in Information Technology (IT). Since then, the program has grown to eight categories in 2025: AI Impact, Design, DEI Leadership, Innovation in Information Technology, IT Security, Operational Excellence, UC Collaboration and Sustained Impact.

The individuals and teams who are selected each year receive community-wide recognition and visibility, thanks to an awards ceremony, a press release, social media outreach and more. Learn more about the seven award categories (below) and review the application form. Learn more about the 2025 UC Tech Awards program.

Eligibility

1. Individuals or teams, including those who were equally involved in large projects.
2. Staff and faculty employed by the University of California.
3. Technology-centered functions, including technology, research, academic, and business support units.
4. Those working in cross-location and cross-functional teams are encouraged to participate or nominate their colleagues.

About the UC CIO Council’s Selection Committee

The UC Tech Awards Program selection committee is composed of five members of the CIO Council, including one member of the UC Office of the President and four others from locations who rotate annually. The committee determines the award winners on the basis of submitted materials and in accordance with the selection criteria. The names of committee members are added to this website after the selections have been announced each year.

Each year, the CIO Council chooses a gold and silver winner of each award type They look forward to reviewing submissions each year and to celebrating achievements of the UC tech community during the awards ceremony, typically on day 2 of the UC Tech Conference each year.

FAQs

1. Do I /we apply for an “individual” or “team” award? The CIO Council welcomes individual to apply. If the individual is 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 celebrate a project team, the project must be operational and have been implemented within the last three years.
3. Is there a limit on the number submissions for one individual or team? No.

Benefits of applying:

Winners and all applicants will receive recognition for professional achievements which will be shared with UC tech colleagues, including senior leaders, as well as the larger UC community. Benefits of participating:

1. You need not be present to win – if you do not have the time/budget to attend the conference this year, you will still receive the recognition and networking throughout the year ahead;
2. All applicants will have their application read by CIO’s;
3. All applications will be published online;
4. Winners (one gold and one silver award for each category), will be honored during an awards ceremony dinner;
5. Winners will receive significant visibility via press immediately after the event and throughout the year ahead;
6. Winners will receive professional awards ceremony photos and a video, along with a print- and digital certificate
7. All applicants for a category will be invited to participate in networking events to meet colleagues and others interested in their work throughout the year. Sharing your time in this manner results in enormous professional development gains across the community.

Contact