Is your university program world class in the fields of operations research, management science (OR/MS), and analytics? If you're passionate about empowering the next generation of data-driven decision-makers and problem solvers, the UPS George D. Smith Prize is the recognition that your academic program deserves.
Top Five Reasons to Apply for the UPS George D. Smith Prize
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Global Recognition
Winning the UPS George D. Smith Prize instantly elevates your university program to international acclaim. It's a testament to your commitment to excellence and innovation in OR/MS and analytics education.
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Student Success
Winning the UPS George D. Smith Prize can directly impact your students' careers. They benefit from the prestige associated with the prize, which can open doors to exciting job opportunities, internships, and research projects in leading organizations.
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Network Expansion
Winning this award connects your university program with an elite network of professionals, scholars, and industry leaders in the OR/MS and analytics domains. This network can foster partnerships, collaborations, and knowledge exchange.
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Inspiration for Faculty and Students
Winning the UPS George D. Smith Prize serves as a source of inspiration for your faculty and students. It reaffirms their dedication to the field and motivates them to excel further, fostering a culture of innovation within your university.
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Visibility and Validation
Your university program's association with the UPS George D. Smith Prize enhances its credibility, making it more attractive to prospective students, faculty, and collaborators. The Prize winner is selected by top talent in the OR/MS and analytics space, providing external validation of the program.
How to Apply
2025 Applications Deadline November 25, 2024 (11:59pm Pacific)
Applications include program history, the parent academic institution, the number of students enrolled and annually graduated in the program, and the nature of degrees given. Additionally, the role of operations research and advanced analytics in the program, and why competency in operations research practice is at least one of the goals of the program, and faculty familiarity and competence in operations research, management science, and analytics practice. A description of what is innovative in their program in regards to O.R. and analytics practitioner preparation should also be included.
What Happens If My Program is a Finalist?
If your program is selected as one of the 2025 UPS George D. Smith Prize finalists, you will give your presentation live at the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Monday, April 7, 2025. The winner will be announced at the Edelman Gala on Monday evening, and will give a reprise of their presentation the next day, and at the 2025 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
What Other Programs Have Won the UPS George D. Smith Prize?
Previous program winners include:
- University of South Carolina, Management Science Department
- Purdue University, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business
- Eindhoven University of Technology, Master of Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- University of Iowa, Department of Business Analytics
- Queens's University - Smith School of Business (Canada)
- University of Cincinnati - Operations, Business Analytics and Information Systems Department
- MS in Business Analytics Program, Haslam College of Business, University of Tennesee
- H. John Heinz III College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University
- U.S. Air Force Academy, Operations Research Program
- Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia - Center for Operations Excellence
- MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO)
- Naval Postgraduate School
- Tauber Institute for Global Operations at University of Michigan
Watch the presentation from the 2023 winner, Purdue University
