Service Excellence Awards were presented March 12 in the Center for Tomorrow for projects that made registration and grade reporting easier, simplified the student loan process, streamlined the processing of student time sheets and paychecks, improved WBFO's radio signal and reduced UB's electric bill.

First-place honors went to the Billing, Inquiry, Records, Drop/Add (BIRD) project, which enables students to register and receive their grades anywhere a touch-tone telephone is available. In addition to eliminating lines and making access more flexible, BIRD also provides service to students by allowing them more time to register and change their schedules. The system also significantly reduces workload and costs involved in registration and grade reporting. Hinrich Martens, associate vice president for Computing and Information Technology, accepted the award for the cross-functional team that included members from Administrative Computing, Campus Services, Millard Fillmore College, Office of Graduate School, Operational Support Services, Records and Registration, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, School of Management, Student Life, Technical Services and Undergraduate Education.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program received second place for its role in providing a new and simpler way for students to obtain loans. Loan funds are received directly from the U.S. Department of Education, and disbursed directly to eligible students, which makes loan processing more efficient, improves customer service and creates a new revenue source and marketing tool for recruiting students. John Karrer, director of Student Finances and Records, accepted the award for the project team that included representatives of Accounting and Payroll Services, Administrative Computing Services, the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Student Accounts.

Third place was awarded to the Student Time Sheet Paperless Processing project, which has enabled departments to process student assistant time sheets electronically. The payroll system accepts entries and transmits data without paper documents, which allows single data entry, greater accuracy, enhanced availability of information and elimination of paper files. Joseph Kerr, acting director of payroll services, accepted the award for the project team composed of representatives of Computing and Information Technology, Payroll Services and University Facilities.

Third place also was awarded to WBFO for improvements to its signal and expansion of its coverage area. UB's radio station significantly boosted the quality and range of its signal by replacing its directional antenna with one that transmits the signal in all directions, improving technical service to current and potential listeners and providing increased fund-raising potential without incurring additional operational costs other than a one-time investment of $23,000 for equipment and labor. Carole Smith Petro, associate vice president for University Services, accepted the award for the project team that included staff from WBFO and S&B Communications.

Honorable mention went to the College Work Study Re-Engineering Initiative, a system that allows appointments and time sheets to be accepted until the time checks are drawn, reducing the amount of data entry needed and increasing internal control. Kerr also accepted the award for this project team, which included representatives of Accounting and Payroll Services and the Office of Financial Aid.

A special award was presented for the Niagara Mohawk SC-11 Electric Rate, a project that redefines the electric rate structure for UB's North Campus. The rate negotiated for the duration of the three-year contract is expected to save UB $3.5 million, and also encourages energy conservation. Ronald Nayler, associate vice president for University Facilities, accepted the award for the team made up of representatives of Accounting and Payroll Services and University Services.