WashU IT is continuing its commitment to strengthening employee engagement, with upcoming focus groups designed to ensure employee voices help shape the future of our organization.
Later this month, two focus groups—one for managers and one for employees—will meet with Sparck, a third-party partner specializing in employee engagement. These sessions will build on the feedback gathered in February’s engagement survey.
The strong response from volunteers across the organization was encouraging and reflected a shared interest in improving the workplace experience. Selected participants will be contacted directly by Sparck, with sessions scheduled between April 20 and May 1.
Feedback from these discussions will be analyzed and shared with the Employee Engagement Committee and Senior Leadership Team to help guide future priorities.
The February survey results highlighted a highly engaged workforce, with an 81% engagement score and an Employee Net Promoter Score of +72—both exceeding typical higher education benchmarks. The results also reinforced the strength of our team culture and the positive impact of supportive managers.
At the same time, employees identified opportunities to improve communication transparency, career growth pathways, and leadership visibility. In response, WashU IT is introducing monthly manager updates, increasing leadership engagement with teams, and expanding professional development opportunities.
These efforts, along with insights from the focus groups, will inform a broader employee engagement strategy aligned with the WashU IT Operating Model over the next 18 months.
The next update will be shared at the IT All Hands meeting on May 20.