Caring Culture
Foster a caring culture that empowers all students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to thrive.
Goals & Strategies
Cultivate a culture of recognition, inclusion, engagement, and well-being
- Recruit, retain, and support faculty, staff, and students who contribute to and represent the communities we serve.
- Support programming and activities for faculty, staff, and students that foster a sense of community and well-being.
- Establish a college-wide system of recognition to promote the work of faculty, staff, and students and celebrate moments – big and small.
Strengthen connections with alumni, partners, and stakeholders.
- Engage with the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board on long-range strategic planning, advocacy for the college, and opportunities for service and financial support.
- Foster connections and engagement between alumni and students.
- Enhance communication and engagement with alumni, stakeholders, and partners via online and print publications, social media, personal visits, and development events.
Optimize the organizational structure, policies, practices, and environments.
- Continue to review and augment the organizational structure to improve alignment and performance.
- Review college and departmental processes and policies to continuously innovate and increase efficiency and accountability.
- Enhance spaces and environments to improve the workplace, stimulate learning, and support research.
Key Actions
Activate
Caring Culture Committee
The Caring Culture Committee, consisting of faculty and staff representatives from across the college, advances the College of Education and Health Professions’ caring culture priority and actively promotes an environment centered on well-being, recognition, and community. The committee reviews data from employee satisfaction surveys, focus groups, and exit interviews and provides input to the Dean on the caring culture priority action items.
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The Caring Culture Committee is comprised of eight to 10 faculty and staff members across the college representing different departments and administrative units. The members serve for a two-year term that can be renewed. The Associate Dean for Administration serves as the chair of the committee. The committee meets two to three times per year to advance its mission.
WE CARE Rounds of Applause
WE CARE Rounds of Applause recognize faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job requirements to demonstrate extraordinary care for their colleagues, students, or community. The Rounds of Applause promote a culture of recognition and engagement within the college while acknowledging and celebrating the diligent work of faculty and staff and their generosity of time, effort, and care.
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Any faculty or staff member in the college can nominate a colleague for this award at any time. To submit a nomination, complete this form.
Dean’s Advisory Student Council
The Dean’s Advisory Student Council consists of students from across the College of Education and Health Professions and works closely with the Dean and the Director of Communications to share authentic, creative, and positive stories about life as a College of Education and Health Professions student, assist with social media and marketing campaigns, and enhance students’ knowledge of opportunities and day-to-day life in the college.
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If you are a student in the College of Education and Health Professions, passionate about your academic program, active on social media, and eager to share your stories, apply here to become a member of the Dean’s Advisory Student Council.
Assessment of faculty and staff retention
Enacting regular employee satisfaction surveys, focus group discussions, and exit interviews while actively engaging with the Caring Culture Committee enables the College of Education and Health Professions leadership to better understand and address employee concerns, promote a caring work culture, and strengthen workforce retention.
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Developing mechanisms to evaluate employee satisfaction is vital to retaining a stable and engaged workforce. The university currently conducts an exit survey, but few leaving their positions complete it. Without its own retention assessment, the college loses the opportunity to gather feedback from potential long-term employees who, with some engagement and support, might have chosen to stay. Moving towards a model where collected data are evaluated and utilized to implement change is vital to supporting employees and improving their work environments.
The Office of the Associate Dean for Administration will proactively address retention by (1) periodically deploying a satisfaction survey and/or utilizing focus groups to aid in identifying areas of success and need in the college; (2) engaging with the Caring Culture Committee to review survey and focus group data so plans can be formulated and implemented to address concerns; (3) participating in ongoing conversations with research-active faculty to remove roadblocks to the advancement of their research and future funding opportunities; and (4) implementing a college “exit process” in which employees leaving the college will complete an exit survey and participate in an exit interview with the Associate Dean for Administration.
Monthly Online Leading with Care Newsletter for Alumni and Stakeholders
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expanded college and departmental alumni awards
The College of Education and Health Professions has expanded its college alumni awards to honor outstanding alumni for exceptional professional achievements, extraordinary distinction in their fields, and public service. The five college alumni awards include the Distinguished Career in Education Award, the Distinguished Career in Health Award, the Distinguished Public Service Award, the Emerging Leader in Education Award, and the Emerging Leader in Health Award. Additionally, each department in the college selects one outstanding graduate to receive its alumni award.
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Read more about the college alumni awards.
Student Success Through Exceptional Teaching
To promote teaching excellence and student achievement, the College of Education and Health Professions provides faculty opportunities to complete nationally recognized teaching enhancement certifications and training. Examples include the ACUE certification from the Association of College and University Educators and the CNE (Certified Nurse Educator) certification from the National League of Nursing.
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To submit a funding application for ACUE training and certification, complete this form.
Hogs Teach InspiRED (Razorback Educator Development) marketing campaign
First-Year Faculty Engagement and Networking Series
The First-Year Faculty Engagement and Networking Series is designed to acclimate new faculty members to the college, university, and broader community. The series begins with the New Faculty Welcome and includes additional learning sessions throughout the academic year that are focused on several pertinent college and university processes (e.g., annual evaluations and promotion) as well as regional learning experiences at sites throughout Northwest Arkansas.
Alumni Mentoring Program
The Alumni Mentoring Program offers an opportunity for alumni and current students to foster meaningful connections by providing crucial support to students preparing to enter the workforce of their chosen field while simultaneously strengthening the bonds between alumni and the college. The Director of Career Initiatives will develop and oversee the Alumni Mentoring Program.
Assistant Director of Communications
fundraising plan for the WE CARE strategic fund
The fundraising plan for the WE CARE strategic fund ensures that the key actions supporting the goals and strategies of the strategic plan receive the financial support required to bring the overall WE CARE mission into fruition.
Key Actions
Sustain
We Care Together Programming
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Fostering community and shared commitments comprises a vital element of amplifying the talents of our faculty and staff. Identifying opportunities to learn about and highlight the variety of talents and expertise in our units is important to cultivating a caring community.
Proposals for potential events/programs are accepted on an ongoing basis from faculty, staff, or units. To request funding for your We Care Together Programming idea, apply here.
engagement with the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, alumni, and stakeholders
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The Dean’s Executive Advisory Board functions as an advocacy group for the college and collaborates with Dean Kate Mamiseishvili to develop long-range strategic priorities and identify service and financial support opportunities. The board formed in March 2023 and is comprised of education and health leaders committed to the college’s vitality, improvement, and growth. Ashlie Hilbun, Ed.D. 2013, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, was selected as the inaugural board chair.
Student success strategies and resources
facilities and technology upgrades
staff onboarding and professional development
engagement with the College Council, Staff Advisory Council, Program Coordinators, and other groups
monthly roundup email and other communication strategies
annual Leading with Care magazine for partners and supporters of the college
The Leading with Care printed magazine is published annually and serves to highlight the strengths of the college, progress on the strategic priorities, and achievements of faculty, staff, and students. In addition to reaching members of the college, the annual printed magazine serves as a crucial outreach tool for alumni, stakeholders, partners, and other supporters.
Show that You Care
Help us advance our strategic priorities
Education and health are vital cornerstones of economic and societal well-being in every community. The WE CARE strategic plan serves as a catalyst for innovation across healthcare and education and an accelerator of improved education and health outcomes in Arkansas and beyond.
Contact our Director of Development, Tory Gaddy, to learn more about supporting the WE CARE strategic plan or to discuss specific priorities that are meaningful to you.
Office of the Dean
College of Education and Health Professions
324 Graduate Education Building
751 W. Maple Ave.
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
WE CARE: Wellness and Education Commitment to Arkansas Excellence
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For Faculty & Staff
Access funding information, proposal submission deadlines, etc.