• Employee Engagement Updates — Learn about exciting initiatives including the Supervisor Success Series, Performance Review redesign, and other opportunities to strengthen our campus community.
• 2026 Enrichment Week Recap — Take a look back at a fantastic week of learning, wellness, creativity, and connection.
• Heat Stress Safety — Practical tips for staying safe and healthy during the warm summer months.
• Wellness Spotlight: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — Explore valuable tools and resources available to support you and your family.
• Everyone Has a Story — Meet this edition’s featured employee and learn more about their ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ journey.
• Where in L/A? — Put your local knowledge to the test for a chance to win!
• & More

We invite you to take a few moments to read through this edition and stay up to date on the many programs, events, and initiatives happening across campus. Thank you for all you do to make ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ such a special place, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!

Best wishes,
Jaime

We’re pleased to share the . It’s filled with updates, stories, and seasonal highlights to keep you connected at ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝! Inside this edition, you’ll find:

• Building a Better ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝, Together â€” Learn about initiatives and opportunities to make a positive impact in our community.
• 2025 Annual Holiday Party â€” A festive look back at our celebration and all the joy shared across campus.
• Benefits Spotlight: EAP Resources â€” Discover how the Employee Assistance Program can support you and your family.
• Winter Safety Tips â€” Helpful reminders for shoveling during these winter months.
• B Well Highlight – Meet our B Well Ambassadors. 
• Where in L/A? â€” Test your knowledge!

We invite you to read through the newsletter and stay up to date on all the opportunities and initiatives happening this season. Wishing you a safe, warm, and connected winter at ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝!

Best wishes,

Jaime

We’re pleased to share the It is packed with updates, stories, and seasonal highlights to keep you connected at ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝! Inside this edition, you’ll find:

• Community Giving Campaign Launch â€” Learn how to support local and national organizations making a difference from October 20–November 14.
• Open Enrollment 2026 â€” What you need to know about plan updates (including the discontinuation of the Aetna Whole Health plan) and key dates beginning October 29.
• AED Awareness â€” Take a minute to locate the AED nearest to your workspace — every second counts!
• B Well Survey Results â€” See what your fellow employees shared about well-being priorities and how HR is using your feedback to shape what’s next.
• Fall Fun at Wallingford’s â€” A look back at our joyful October outing with more than 200 attendees!

We invite you to read through the newsletter and stay up to date on all the opportunities and initiatives happening across campus this season.
Wishing you a cozy, colorful, and connected fall at ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝!

Best,
Jaime

For More Information

• Human Resources
• hrdept@bates.edu
• 207-786-6140

The Summer 2025 HR Newsletter is here! This edition is full of updates and resources to help you stay connected and supported at ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝. Inside, you’ll find:

• An employee engagement update from President Jenkins, highlighting the next steps toward building a Better ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ Together
• Late-summer water safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe while enjoying Maine’s lakes and ponds
• An introduction to the new B Well Ambassador program and the Well-being Committee
• A look back at Employee Enrichment Week, plus upcoming events like the family-friendly outing at Wallingford’s Fruit House on October 11
• An introduction to In Good Company with HR, beginning this September
• And more!

We invite you to read through the newsletter and stay up to date with the many opportunities and initiatives happening across campus.

Wishing you a safe and restful end to the summer!

Best,

Jaime Swart, HR Administrative Assistant

Below is a summary of recommendations from the four engagement subcommittees that we believe are achievable over the next three years. These recommendations are the result of five months of collaborative work among roughly 70 ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ colleagues, both staff and faculty. The process was inclusive of many points of view and experiences, concrete survey metrics, and the continued desire to create a Better ŔÖ˛Ą´«Ă˝ Together. We have been impressed by the level of reflection and resolve these groups have demonstrated through this process and thank them profusely for their efforts. (click here for list)

Over the coming months, the Human Resources team will be evaluating each recommendation, assessing capacity to support these endeavors, including HR workload, determining the number of volunteers needed, developing a reasonable activities budget, and creating project plans to prioritize and structure the work. We are so excited to finally be in this space and hope to make significant progress over the coming year, recognizing that some more complicated proposals may require additional time and consideration to take shape.

*As you review the recommendations, it is important to also keep in mind what initiatives are already in progress, denoted by an asterisk. 

Career Advancement:

• Share the processes for career advancement in a clear and transparent way
• Ensure that updated job descriptions are available*
• Improve the way career opportunities are communicated
• Enhance the performance evaluation process so that job responsibilities and related competencies are defined and measured and annual goals are established*
• Develop a session on goal-setting and career progression 
• Create opportunities for networking, peer learning and the sharing of best practices
• Institute a feedback mechanism, i.e. “stay interviews,” for new employees*

Supervisor Professional Development:

• Establish Human Resources “open hours” across different venues on campus*
• Create a five-module supervisor professional development program to include:

• Supervisor Basics (operational responsibilities)
• Emotional Intelligence 101
• Conflict Management
• Performance Management
• Building an Effective Team Culture
• Ensure that a culture of well-being and belonging are woven throughout the program

Staff/Faculty Relationships:

An important note:

There are subcommittee recommendations in this category that require the review and input of our new vice president for academic affairs/dean of the faculty before communicating to the broader campus. We anticipate additional recommendations will be shared with our community in the fall.

• Increase the number of community-building opportunities between staff and faculty
• Develop a robust formal recognition program that celebrates employee achievements
• Establish a communication strategy that acknowledges staff contributions to the campus, complementing current faculty messaging
• Revive the former “staff council” model or equivalent committee structure

Employee Well-being

• Align senior leadership to champion well-being across the institution*
• Launch a Wellness Ambassador Program, empowering employees to serve as wellness champions across departments*
• Embed wellbeing into all supervisor training
• Improve wellness communications and enhance offerings
• Develop a strategic mental health and well-being plan for the campus

Please reach out to Human Resources at hrdept@bates.edu for more information or to learn how to participate in this important work.

Please check out the winter 2024 newsletter attached to this email. This edition features articles focused on wellness and personal growth, including a workshop series hosted through B Well called Mindset Management: Enhancing Self-Leadership and Personal and Professional Growth. You will also find employee engagement updates, reminders about checking your newly elected benefits, and more!

Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of 2024, and looking forward to seeing everyone in the new year!

Best, 
Jessica Fournier
Employee Relations Manager