Dear colleagues,

As the HR team shared in its latest newsletter, it has been a busy summer on the staff engagement front. Human Resources staff met with divisional leaders to review their individual results from the Employee Engagement Survey; these leaders are now working with their teams to discuss areas of strength and areas of opportunity. Action plans from each division will be developed and shared with me in mid October. Once approved, each plan will be implemented within specific units.

On a broader scale, we have identified three areas of focus and next steps for the institution based on the feedback offered in the survey:

• Supervisor development: Create a baseline professional development program for supervisors and managers
• Career advancement: Enhance development opportunities and clarify steps for career advancement
• Staff/faculty relationships: Improve the relationships between staff and faculty

In the coming weeks, Human Resources will oversee another “call to action” across campus, enlisting the help of various members of our community to establish working groups centered on each of these areas of focus.

Additionally, and also in response to survey feedback, Human Resources will be revamping the performance review process for FY26, with the goal of making it clearer and more meaningful to participants. And finally, our B-Well team will be working to enhance programming over the fall semester, including resources focused on mental health and wellbeing.

Thank you for your continued commitment to building a Better Bates Together. When we work together, we achieve great things.

Sincerely,
   Garry