The Employee Engagement Council is Committed to your Experience and Growth

Now more than ever, there is a great importance for all employees to take a break from time to time and get to know people, not only for their skills and contributions to the University but get to know the person behind the work. Not only does this allow for a greater interpersonal connection amongst colleagues but allows for a higher level of care for those you work with regularly. At everyone’s core, there are passions, interests, families, and personalities that make up each person, and those attributes are important to understand. 

That’s where the Employee Engagement Council (EEC) comes into play. The EEC, originally called the Cultural Transformation Committee was founded with the intent of prioritizing the person independent of the work and focuses on employee growth, advocacy, and connection. 

Audrey Ashcraft, ITSM Team Leader for ServiceNow and Co-Chair of the EEC wants to make sure UITS is aware of the committee’s mission and intentions. “A lot of people think the EEC is only about motivation and fun events, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an opportunity for us to look for areas where we, as a committee, can provide guidance on how to help employees grow.”

The committee encompasses employees of various departments, levels, and years of service to the University, and offer ways to gain support through their partnerships and connections to help aid in professional development. “Our team works with service leaders on the professional development opportunities, and our goal is to be the voice of our employees”, stated Audrey. 

Matt Schimel, Application Systems Developer and EEC Co-Chair brings his personal goals and experiences to the group. Having lost 45 pounds with a dedication to health and wellness, he understands the importance of physical and mental well-being for employees, and is committed to connecting teams to the right resources to be their healthiest selves. 

“There are a multitude of programs employees have little to no knowledge of that are designed to help them be their optimal selves. We offer a health impact program and partner with Credible Minds – a third party website offering resources on mental and physical health, financial literacy, and much more.” 

The future of the EEC is bright, with the committee meeting weekly to discuss the needs of employees and the fun ways to engage teams. Afterall, the committee does recognize that “engagement” and “fun” work hand-in-hand. “Although we don’t want folks to think we are only about fun, we make sure to infuse fun into everything we do and every event. Afterall, fun is what engages people and helps to bring the institution together,” stated Audrey. 

There are some great events on the horizon that the team is currently working on:

• Wellness Wednesdays
• Tucson Hikes 
• Watercooler Conversations (Teams)
• May The Fourth Be With You 

The EEC is always looking for fresh ideas and perspectives and people to join the committee who share in the mission. If interested, contact Audrey Ashcraft and Matt Schimel for more information.