Models of Efficiency was a national recognition program created by University Business Magazine to showcase college and university campus departments that found ways to work smarter – saving resources such as time and money while providing better service to students or other constituents.
“We launched the program after hearing stories from many colleges about how, when forced to find ways to operate more efficiently because of budget cuts, they wound up doing things like automating processes, which can benefit the department as well as make things better in some way for the students they serve,” said Melissa Ezarik, managing editor of University Business Magazine.
Ezarik said the program only lasted four years and the University of Alabama was one of the last to be given the award before the end of the program.
“We had three entry rounds for each year, and campus administrators would apply to be recognized,” she said. “We judged the entries on whether they met a standard we set for efficiency. It was sort of like giving a ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval’ for campus administrative efficiencies.”
When it came to choosing a school whose orientation seemed the best, Ezarik said The University of Alabama Action Card procedure immediately stood out as an innovative effort.
“Student orientation is such a busy time, and the judging team liked that students at The University of Alabama could spend more time on the fun, social parts of orientation and less on the tedious paperwork,” she said. “The automation made things easier and more cost efficient for the Action Card staff, but the positive impact on students was key.”
Jeanine Brooks, director of the Action Card Office, said it’s exciting to have won and been recognized for this award.
“We are pleased and honored to have received the award and recognition that our program enhanced the student experience as well as improved internal efficiency in operations for the Action Card Office,” Brooks said
She said she believes that the combination between the work of the Auxiliary Services and OIT is what got them recognized for this award.
“This system has enhanced 91 percent of freshman orientation students successfully in the last two years and has improved office operation efficiency at no additional cost,” she said.
When it comes to the future of the Action Card program, Brooks said it’s very likely to expand.
“The program has already grown to include new graduate and early college students and I expect it to continue to expand,” she said.
