As the University embarks on the next phase of its inaugural People Strategy, it is seeking employee feedback through upcoming focus groups.
Over the past several months, effort has been made to develop a People Strategy, a new way of looking at Brock’s current and future talent needs to meet the University’s mission and institutional priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan. The strategy will inform how Brock will uniquely attract, retain, develop and deploy talent.
Three of the four strategic priorities in the Strategic Plan speak directly to the importance of working with people, the heart of the University.
“We are a people organization,” said Brock President Gervan Fearon. “People are our greatest capacity and the result of our success. Thanks to the outstanding talent of our faculty and staff, we celebrated our 100,000th graduate this past June.
“Employee input is crucial to our shared future. As we develop our first People Strategy, who better to help inform it than our own people?”
With an evolving post-secondary education landscape and new strategic plan focusing on excellence and meeting students’ needs, Brock is in an era of change. The development of Brock’s first People Strategy is an opportunity for staff and faculty to help inform the University and influence their own work environment.
Brock employees have been quick to answer past calls to provide organizational feedback. In 2017, more than 900 staff and faculty members completed an employee engagement survey and 50 people participated in related focus groups. The feedback received through the engagement survey resulted in the University’s first mentorship program, shaped thinking around the mandate of the Office of Human Rights and Equity, has influenced reviews to key policies and is currently feeding into the development of the People Strategy.
Many others shared their thoughts during the development of the University’s Strategic Plan, and their feedback was important in the shaping of strategic priorities.
Faculty and staff are invited to share their feedback once again, this time through a series of focus groups that will help guide the new People Strategy. Separate faculty, staff and leadership sessions will take place in May on two distinct topics: organizational capabilities and culture, and employee retention and development.
- Organizational capabilities and culture — Sessions designed to help senior leadership understand what skills and abilities are key to Brock’s success and what is needed for people to be successful at the University.
- Employee retention and development — Sessions designed to help senior leadership understand how to retain talent at Brock and how to help people develop throughout their career.
Space is limited, so employees are encouraged to sign up quickly before sessions fill up. Registration is available at Focus on Learning.
Invitations will also be extended to specific employee groups. Faculty and staff who have worked at Brock for 18 months or less will be invited to discuss why they joined Brock as an employee, and what their first impressions have been. Targeted sessions with students will also take place.
Supervisors are encouraged to allow their team members the time to attend these important sessions.
“This is an opportunity for faculty and staff to help shape the University’s future,” said Fearon. “Together with our employees, Brock will meet students’ needs; support excellence in academic programming, research, scholarship and creative activities; and contribute to regional community and economic growth.
“Our new People Strategy will help us retain and attract outstanding and talented faculty and staff. Input and perspectives from our employees can help build an effective People Strategy that will meet the collective needs of our employees, students and community partners.”
