As the saying goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” At the University of Miami, U Facilitators are the first ’Canes who provide that first impression to new employees.
As part of a selective program for passionate University employee volunteers, U Facilitators lead the orientation program that welcomes all newly hired faculty and staff members to the University community.
In March of 2021, the Talent and Organizational Development (TOD) team, part of Human Resources, transitioned the U Facilitators program to the virtual space. Several individuals embraced an evolving work environment and challenged themselves to learn how to facilitate the now-virtual sessions of I Am the U and We Care.
The team worked closely with the U Facilitators to provide the tools and coaching needed to become successful virtual facilitators. From March through December of 2021, U Facilitators conducted 43 orientation sessions and welcomed more than 5,400 new employees to the University.
“It has been a very fun challenge to be able to engage differently with the participants through the collaboration tools found on Zoom,” said Andrea Tejera, manager of information technology at the School of Law, noting how Zoom features, including chat, raise a hand, and the annotation tool, make facilitating engaging. “We have employees from all over the world. Through this virtual experience, we can bring everybody together and share with our new members of the community our values and our mission to transform lives.”
Virtual facilitation also provides added flexibility for U Facilitators.
“Facilitating I Am the U virtually has afforded me the ability to be more productive in my day-to-day responsibilities by managing my time wisely,” said Lluvia Resendiz, senior manager of customer service for parking and transportation. “With the help of the TOD team, I was able to quickly transition into the virtual world and found unique ways to be communicative with our new employees.”
Without the ability to move around a physical room to engage with the participants and make direct eye contact, facilitators learned to adapt to the virtual environment.
“I feel as though I am able to connect with more audience members via the chat, learn more names—since they are displayed on the screen, and have some active back-and-forth style interactions,” said Christopher Hartnett, senior manager of professional development for human resources. “I enjoy being one of the first faces new employees see when they begin their role at the U.”
Christopher Magnan, senior advisor for financial literacy in the Division of Enrollment Management, embraced the challenge and found ways to bring passion and energy into online interactions. “When facilitating virtual sessions, I think of myself as their virtual cup of coffee,” said Magnan. “My goal is to help them start their day with a boost of positive, ‘Go ’Canes’ energy that makes them feel good about being a part of the U.”
Former U Facilitators interested in expanding their professional development by becoming virtual facilitators should contact the Talent and Organizational Development team at tod@miami.edu. While the recruitment of new U Facilitators is on hold, University employees who are interested in becoming a U Facilitator in the future may also email tod@miami.edu.
All faculty and staff members can review a list of offerings that encourage them to explore, develop, and grow professionally and personally, while learning practical skills for their current role and long-term career development.
