DASA Connect Returns to Bring New Employees Together

It’s difficult to imagine a much better way to break the ice and get to know your fellow new employees than firing up a spirited rock, paper, scissors tournament. 

At this year’s relaunched DASA Connect series, that’s just one of the activities new employees across the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA) participated in to orient themselves to their new employer. The in-person, half-day orientation program was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, but relaunched this year. 

“We thought it was really important to relaunch the program because it’s important to bring new DASA employees together,” said Beth Buck, DASA’s assistant vice chancellor of human resources. “This is such a large division and that allows us to orient them to the division.”

It’s important to bring new DASA employees together.

Buck also explained that the series is an excellent way to connect employees to key tenants of DASA Reimagined, the division’s new strategic plan launched in 2022. The program, hosted in one of Wellness and Recreation’s large classrooms, featured guest speakers from throughout the division. 

One of the key elements of DASA Reimagined is a focus on the importance of mental health and well-being for employees. One of the program’s sessions, led by Director of Wellness Shannon Dupree, focused on ways for employees to be mindful of their mental and physical health. 

“We want to make sure that we get that message to employees early on about making sure you’re taking care of yourself,” Buck said. “Your wellness is important, and if you’re not taking care of yourself, then you can’t do what you need to do so that we can support our students.”

After Assistant Vice Chancellor Justine Hollingshead led a session on emergency preparedness, the program moved into its other key component: a strengths assessment. 

Before attending DASA Connect, employees completed the CliftonStrengths StrengthsFinder tool and brought printed materials detailing their top five strengths. Participants then discussed their strengths with one another, and chose pictures from a selection to represent their top strengths. 

“One of the things in our strategic plan is building a culture of belonging,” Buck said. “We really can use CliftonStrengths as a way to do that because CliftonStrengths is all about recognizing the unique talents that all individual employees can contribute.”

One of the things in our strategic plan is building a culture of belonging.

Buck called the program’s relaunch this year a success, with about 50 employees participating, and said the HR department has received positive feedback. 

“The program was made possible through support from the division,” Buck said. “For example, Wellness and Recreation’s classroom space meets our needs and gives new employees a chance to see a beautiful space that is part of the division.”

Plans are already underway to continue the program in 2024. DASA HR is working on a second component, which would feature a virtual orientation for employees within their first 30 days, as the in-person program is offered a few times a year. 

Buck said she’s already looking forward to meeting more new employees and seeing them build connections with their coworkers across such a large division. 

“It’s rewarding for our team,” Buck said. “We’re behind the scenes. We see new employees’ names as we’re getting them hired and things like that, but we love getting to connect with our new employees in person. That’s my favorite part.”