Indiana University Bloomington leaders have been focused on a staff engagement initiative for more than a year in an effort to recruit, retain and engage talented and diverse staff members, and help employees learn and grow.

Progress has been made in the form of the recently opened Marathon Health Employee Health Center, for example. Also, the My Voice at IU survey continues to give employees an avenue to provide feedback and offer thoughts and opinions. And, Performance at IU: A Culture of Conversations has provided a process for staff and their supervisors to have regular conversations about performance and growth opportunities.

“Our staff are invaluable in making all we do possible, creating a great experience for students, and enabling transformative and meaningful research,” IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Rahul Shrivastav said. “It is critical that we invest in their continued growth, engagement and well-being.”

This academic year, five initiatives are rolling out to strengthen staff engagement. They are:

Reimagined employee recognition

Employee recognition programs have been reimagined and enhanced to better celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding efforts and contributions of staff. The programs aim to foster a culture of appreciation and ensure that staff achievements are celebrated in meaningful ways.

Indiana University celebrates the 2023 Staff Merit Awards Ceremony at IU Bloomington on Feb. 7, 2024. Photo by Wendi Chitwood, Indiana UniversityThe nomination process for the Staff Merit Awards has been revised so it’s simpler, with required letters of support changed from a minimum of three to a maximum of three. The number of recipients has been increased to eight, and the monetary awards have increased to $2,000.

The criteria for the award now are more in line with staff core competencies. Also, the nomination deadline has been pushed back to Oct. 18 so it doesn’t conflict with the busy start of the fall semester, and the recognition event has been moved from December to February.

The long-service and retirees recognition program has also changed. Retirees will now be recognized at the departmental level. Long-service employees will be celebrated in the same calendar year that they reach the milestone.

Communication between staff and leadership

A full-time staff project management role within the provost’s office has been redesigned to focus on staff engagement initiatives. Raluca Glunk, who previously had some staff engagement responsibilities, moved with the position.

The job focuses on creating strong, collaborative relationships between staff and leadership. Glunk will work closely with the Bloomington Staff Council to foster clear communication about strategic plan initiatives, Human Resources programs and other topics.

“The IU Bloomington Staff Council is pleased to see the commitments that the provost’s office is making to strengthen staff connections in general and also with IU Bloomington leadership,” Bloomington Staff Council President Jen Berry said. “Our standing committees, along with myself and our vice president, meet regularly with Raluca to ensure our planning is in sync and beneficial to staff. We are on a journey to repair our community, and these are some of the first steps.”

New employee welcome program

Starting in spring 2025, a program to welcome new employees will be conducted quarterly. It will provide an introduction to the university’s history and highlight employee benefits beyond traditional Human Resources offerings. The program will include a variety of topics, such as what it means to work in higher education, plus team-building opportunities.

“In the end, feeling a sense of belonging is what truly makes a difference,” Glunk said. “When the staff feel like they’re a real part of the community, they’re more motivated, connected and empowered to contribute in meaningful ways. That’s exactly what we’re aiming for here.”

The quarterly program complements, but does not replace, the departmental or benefits orientations led by Human Resources and it offers a broader perspective on the opportunities and resources available to IU staff.

“The welcome program is an opportunity to learn what it means to be a Hoosier,” said Jamie Gayer, senior director of human resources for the Bloomington campus.

Storytelling initiatives

The “5 Questions for Staff” series will continue but include personal stories; it won’t focus solely on one’s role at IU. It will showcase individual journeys, highlighting both professional and personal achievements, and unique experiences within IU. The intent is to emphasize the diverse paths and contributions of staff and strengthen a sense of community and shared purpose.

Showcase for staff strategic plan contributions

The “Together We Bring On Tomorrow: Connecting Staff with Purpose” initiative is designed to illustrate how individual staff contributions play a crucial role in advancing the university’s strategic goals. By demonstrating the broader impact of their work, the program reinforces the interconnectedness of all efforts and underscores the importance of each staff member’s role in IU’s success. The plan will be to share the connection stories as part of the Engage IUB newsletter.

“It’s important to know how the work that you do every day supports the strategic plan and the pillars,” Gayer said. “The provost wants staff to grow and thrive in their sense of connection and belonging to the campus community.”

Kirk Johannesen is a communications consultant in the Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing.