Everyone who works at the University of Oregon should feel supported, valued and equipped to do their best work. Creating that kind of environment doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention and a clear framework to understand how we’re doing and where we can grow.
Employee engagement is a key part of the UO’s strategic goal to create a flourishing community. Engagement offers a research-validated way to understand and describe faculty and staff members’ daily experience of work: how connected they feel, how energized they are and how their workplace supports their success. It reflects a person’s psychological commitment to their organization and shows up through behaviors such as initiative collaboration and effort.
When employees are engaged, they’re more likely to genuinely enjoy their work, bring creativity and responsiveness to serving students and colleagues, and contribute positively to team culture. Research even shows that engaged employees tend to experience better overall well-being, including healthier stress levels and improved physical health outcomes.
In the coming weeks, you’ll hear more about what engagement means at the UO, how the university plans to assess it and practical steps you can take to support your own engagement as well as that of your team or department. In the meantime, you’re invited to explore the Ducks Engage website to learn more about employee engagement and why it matters for all of us.