É«ÀÇÉçÇø

Life at É«ÀÇÉçÇø drastically changed in mid-March. While there was no roadmap for us to follow, one thing became clear on this journey – the staff and faculty at É«ÀÇÉçÇø are one of the university’s best assets. With the majority of staff suddenly working from home and some of our more physical responsibilities falling by the wayside, many realized their valuable skills could be put to good use in other areas. How could their skills provide additional support for students? Where could they offer themselves as a resource? Which departments needed reinforcement? Our É«ÀÇÉçÇø community was ready to help students and their colleagues - The Ally Network was born.

The Ally Network, championed by Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Jeff Hand, was designed to reach across departmental and divisional lines, bringing together a community of É«ÀÇÉçÇø staff to support students during the pandemic. Many of our staff have exceptional skills – both that they use professional and personally – that have provided significant support throughout the university. We have been able to share resources and increase our capacity for supporting students virtually in the areas of retention, recruitment, services, and well-being. 

“The volunteers who have offered their time and resources have shown us the true É«ÀÇÉçÇø spirit,” said Rihab Saadedine, director of strategic Planning & Management and lead coordinator for The Ally Network. “Their willingness to share their skills in an effort to strengthen our community demonstrates their continued commitment to our students – no matter what we’re facing. While students aren’t currently on campus, there are still many ways that we can impact their experiences – from enhanced online learning, innovative marketing, intentional student outreach, and so much more.”

The Ally Network continues to match staff with opportunities and the plans will continue to evolve with the University. To date, more than 100 employees have volunteered to support É«ÀÇÉçÇø in departments other than their own in an effort to support our Profs. We have always been an institution that prides itself on successful partnerships and their positive impact on student experiences – and even through a pandemic, we are unwavering in that commitment.