KU initiative wins local sustainability award


LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has received a 2013 ImpacT Award, which recognizes businesses and organizations in the Kansas City area that have successfully completed projects to deliver efficiency and environmental benefits. KU joins Cerner and Hangers Cleaners in winning an award in the Environmental Impact category for its electronic document imaging and workflow project.

The first phase of the KU project, which was complete in March 2013, expanded the university’s use of Perceptive’s ImageNow technology to automatically scan, route and process documents electronically. Prior to the project, a few units on campus had implemented the technology within their units to streamline document-heavy business processes. Bold Aspirations, KU’s five-year strategic plan, made it possible to take a big-picture approach to electronic document imaging and workflow and expand use of the technology on campus. The award-winning phase included the Admissions Office, Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Office of the University Registrar, the Comptroller’s Office, Research and Graduate Studies, Human Resources and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

KU CIO Bob Lim said, "This project is the result of our campus partnerships and the unified vision outlined in Bold Aspirations. Before this project, a few units on campus were successfully using the technology to improve their internal business processes. Bold Aspirations allowed us to engage those units to create a shared solution to benefit all of KU."

The project has already delivered benefits to the university, including:

  • Saving almost 400,000 sheets of paper each year.
  • Some phase-one participants reclaimed valuable office space by scanning and disposing of approximately 30,000 physical files.
  • Multiple units have been able to dedicate more staff time to customer service by automatically processing applications and forms.
  • The Office of Admissions reduced application-processing time from five to six weeks to less than two.

"Besides the cost and paper savings, this project and the resulting service will create considerable efficiencies and ultimately continue to improve our student service,” said Lim.

The ImpacT Award program is presented by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Thu, 11/21/2013

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Suzie Johannes

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Suzie Johannes

KU Information Technology

785-864-0177