Best Practices

The Best Practices Program promotes and recognizes transformative and innovative approaches to addressing challenges facing higher education business operations. Past submissions showcased a wide variety of unique programs to improve operations on college campuses. The program allows institutions to share new ideas and approaches with CACUBO membership institutions.

The Best Practices Award Program is designed to recognize and showcase the innovative, efficient, and customer-focused business practices implemented by college and university business officers. This program highlights efforts that improve operations, increase service quality, and deliver greater value to higher education institutions. For program details, see below:

Program Guidelines
  • Eligibility: College and university business officers from CACUBO member institutions are eligible to participate. Proposals must be submitted by a member institution of higher education.
  • Proposal Requirements: To compete for the Best Practices Award, you must submit the CACUBO 2026 Annual Conference: Call for Proposals & Best Practices form.
  • Primary Contact: The primary contact for the proposal must be from a CACUBO member institution.
  • Additional Contacts: Up to three additional contacts (from either member institutions or business partners) can be included in the proposal.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by the Best Practices Program Evaluators, a diverse group of representatives from various CACUBO institutions, based on the following criteria:

  1. Relevance: Does the proposal address a common problem in higher education business practices?
  2. Impact: Did the best practice improve service delivery, produce efficiencies, create cost savings, or generate increased revenues?
  3. Long-term Benefits: Will the solution provide ongoing institutional benefits in the future?
  4. Replicability: Can the solution be implemented or adapted by other institutions?
Important Dates
  • Proposal Deadline: January 20, 2026.
  • Results Announcement: All participants will be contacted by April with the results.
  • Award Presentation: Winners will be invited to present their best practices at the CACUBO Annual Conference, scheduled for September 27-29, 2026.
Award Prizes
  • Monetary Awards
    • First Place: $2,500
    • Second Place: $1,500
  • Winners will also receive a waiver of conference registration.
How to Submit
Past "Best Practice" Winners
2025 Best Practices Winners 2024 Best Practices Winners

2023 Best Practices Winners

2022 Best Practices Winners

QUESTIONS:

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