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Volunteers Create Growth and Engagement Opportunities in IET

Quick Summary

  • The UC Davis IET Staff Advisory Committee (SAC), an all-volunteer group formed in 2021, has successfully formalized its structure to complete projects focused on boosting engagement among IET's 250+ employees.
  • A key success, the Stretch Assignment Pilot program, empowers staff to gain new skills and insights through limited-duration assignments in different IET units.
  • The SAC has also launched new initiatives, such as the IET MEETS subcommittee, which is focused on building rapport and fostering social connection among staff members.

UC Davis Information and Educational Technology’s Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) has entered a new stage. Over the past year (2024-2025), the all-volunteer group formalized its leadership and committee structure and successfully completed high-impact projects aimed at boosting engagement among over 250 employees in IET, UC Davis' central IT organization.

It Started with a Survey 

The Staff Advisory Committee has come a long way since forming in 2021. The group was originally created to address several improvement opportunities highlighted in a campus-wide employee engagement survey. Its initial areas of focus included developing talent from within, increasing connection and fostering belonging, and improving internal communication. In response, the SAC created IET Talks, a weekly internal presentation series, a quarterly Coffee with the CIO event, and developed and distributed best practices for improving employee recognition. 

Successful Stretch 

A major success has been the Stretch Assignment Pilot program. The program provides individuals the opportunity to submit ideas for limited-duration assignments designed to stretch their skills. Participants later apply for the chosen assignments, enabling them to gain valuable skills and insight into IET units other than their own.The results were clear: staff found value in exploring different work, learning from new managers, and expanding their skills and networks. 

Following an assessment of the pilot, access to the program was expanded through a self-service model. IET staff and HR teamed up to provide comprehensive training, helping managers and supervisors learn how to offer and encourage stretch assignments and helping staff learn how to ask for and handle a stretch assignment. Moving to this model has given staff the freedom to identify a potential stretch opportunity and work directly with their supervisor to make it happen, ultimately empowering them to take charge of their growth. 

New Leadership and Subcommittees 

In June 2024, the SAC voted to formalize leadership positions, electing a committee chairperson and a secretary. The new designations have already yielded a formalized process for onboarding new full committee and subcommittee members and the creation of two new subcommittees.  

Among the new subcommittees is IET MEETS which stands for Interactive Experiences Together: Meet up, Enjoy, Events, Try-Teach, and Socialize. The goal is to provide IET staff with opportunities to get together, build rapport and friendships and to create and lead their own events as the majority of IET works a remote or hybrid schedule.  

What’s Next? 

Employee engagement and professional development remain the main priorities for IET's Staff Advisory Committee. The committee will continue to gather and analyze feedback from IET staff, identify opportunities for growth, and act as a liaison between staff members, HR, and IET leadership to maintain a culture of care and belonging in one of UC Davis' largest IT organizations.