APPA's Effective & Innovative Practices Award continues to highlight an ever-growing list of creative and practical programs and processes that enhance and transform service delivery, lower costs, increase productivity, improve customer service, generate revenue, or otherwise benefit an educational institution. The five 2009 award-winning entries focus on small renovation projects, employee recognition, utilities distribution systems, safety training, and capital asset documentation. They were: (1) University of North Texas; (2) University of Texas at Austin; (3) Valparaiso University; (4) Weber State University; and (5) Western Michigan University. The five successful schools received special recognition and a check at the APPA 2009: Focusing on the Critical Few conference in Vancouver in July. The awards were presented by Craig Bell of Sodexo and APPA's Bill Elvey and Kevin Folsom.