Dear Student Affairs,

In recent months, many of you have shared honest reflections about your experiences working in our division through the Employee Experience Survey and SA World Café sessions. 

The survey gathered input on leadership and direction, organizational functioning, and culture and engagement — including topics such as communication, workload, role clarity, recognition, and opportunities for connection. Building on these results, the World Café sessions explored three themes — culture of care, communication and transparency, and organizational structure — and invited participants to generate recommendations through stop/continue/add discussions.

Thank you for your candor and for the care you bring to our community. Your feedback has been valuable as we look ahead to strengthening our work together. Senior leadership reviewed the survey findings and the World Café recommendations, and this collective input shaped both the summary of what we heard and our next steps.

What We Heard

Several themes surfaced consistently, offering a clear picture of what supports our best work and where we have room to grow as a division:

• Workload Equity: Staffing changes, vacancies, and shifting responsibilities create strain across the division. We must focus on clearer expectations, stronger communication, and more intentional support during transitions.

• Clear & Predictable Communication: Communication is improving, and continued emphasis on clarity, context, and advance notice will strengthen alignment and reduce uncertainty.

• Culture of Care & Recognition: Genuine, consistent recognition and everyday practices that reflect care are essential elements of a supportive environment.

• Professional Growth & Development: There is strong interest in opportunities to learn, develop skills, and explore future pathways, supported by clearer structures for professional development and onboarding.

• Community & Connection: Cross-department connections—both formal and informal — foster understanding, collaboration, and a stronger sense of community.
  

Employee Wellbeing & Development Workgroup
To further support this work, we also convened a workgroup of staff, faculty, and managers — all nominated through their AVPs — to focus specifically on Goal 2 of our Divisional Strategic Plan: cultivating an inclusive, supportive work environment that prioritizes employee well-being and professional growth.  Given the broader climate in higher education and what we’ve heard informally across the division over the past year, leadership identified this goal as a Year 1 priority. The workgroup reviewed the World Café input related to this goal and to generated additional ideas for bringing it to life. Their recommendations informed several of the next steps outlined below, and additional ideas will continue to guide our efforts over time.

Next Steps
Based on all the engagement efforts and themes that arose, several concrete steps will be launched over the next few months, in alignment with the needs and priorities that surfaced most consistently:

• Launch a newsletter to support communication and share updates, accomplishments, and staffing highlights.
  

• Offer a VPSA visit to each unit to create a more tailored space for conversation and questions.

• Host informal meet-and-greets with the division’s Senior Leadership (beyond the existing meetings with the VPSA) to offer additional avenues for connection.

• AVPs and managers will engage their areas in conversations to clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen communication about expectations, and identify opportunities to improve processes, alignment, and day-to-day operations — especially where duties have shifted or structures have evolved.

• Expand opportunities to connect across the division, including current initiatives (e.g., Softball Game Showdown, Cougar Kindness Exchange) and additional community-building activities.

• Introduce a divisional mentorship program designed to support professional growth and expand opportunities for learning across the division.

• Launch a weekly walking group to promote well-being and offer additional opportunities for informal connection.

• Begin Phase 1 of the Student Affairs Strategic Plan, offering guidance and support for data collection, assessment, and alignment across departments.

In addition, a small group of managers will help advance division-wide efforts related to professional development, employee well-being, and Strategic Plan implementation. Their work will include expanding existing initiatives and supporting the introduction of additional opportunities.

These steps are an important beginning. We will continue listening, assessing, and building on this work, and we will share additional updates as new efforts take shape. Our focus remains on strengthening connection, communication, and support across the division.

Thank you for the work you do each day and for the care you bring to our students and to one another. Our division is strongest when we move forward with intention, clarity, and a shared commitment to creating an environment where every member feels valued and supported. I am grateful to continue this work alongside you.

With appreciation,