First Round of Listening Sessions Identifies Challenges, Opportunities

October 8, 2024 / Tuesday Topics

Today’s topic is the recent listening sessions.

Yesterday afternoon, Administrative Council and I held the last of this first round of listening sessions. I am grateful to all who made the time to share their thoughts at these sessions and to those who sent in written comments.

And, last Friday, I had a chance to meet with members of the 9-Month Teaching Faculty Caucus Executive Committee to hear their concerns and begin to think through a collaborative path forward. I appreciate their willingness to engage in this dialogue.

The listening sessions offered a powerful opportunity to hear directly from you, and one message was consistent: communication at NOVA must improve.

Employees have described the current situation as a real-life version of the old game, “telephone.” Information is getting lost in the layers at NOVA. You have the right to expect better, and as NOVA’s President, changing this situation is my responsibility. While we need to understand more about where, why and how communication is breaking down, we’re committed to taking action now to cut through these layers and ramp up direct communication through the Daily Flyer.

Last week, I shared an FAQ on policy; today, VP Ferrari is sharing one on budget. We also want you to know how we’re communicating with students and will be providing overviews on these campaigns. For example, last week, the Communications Office provided overviews on student outreach for All Access and Enrollment Cancellation. Look for more and more frequent communication from me and Administrative Council in the coming days and weeks. If there is a specific topic you would like us to address, please let me know.

Equally important, I am also working with Administrative Council and others on new ways that information can flow effectively from you to me and all members of Administrative Council so that it informs and helps to shape decisions.

Open communication is essential to all that we do. In a college as large and diverse as NOVA, opinions and perspectives will differ, but all employees at every level should feel comfortable, confident and safe in respectfully sharing their thoughts. If you have concerns about your ability to do so, please contact Employee Relations or the Employee Ombuds.

As I shared in the listening sessions, our commitment is to provide a report out by October 31. This document will identify themes arising from the feedback and include draft recommendations; both will be supported by anonymized examples that illustrate the issues and point to possible solutions.

I described these listening sessions as the “first round”: Administrative Council will hold them once each fall and spring to provide another avenue of direct communication. Your feedback has provided invaluable insight into our challenges and the opportunities we have to work together to drive positive changes.

Thank you for your participation and your commitment to our college.

Kindest regards, Anne