The Department Onboarding Ambassador Program is designed to provide guidance and support to all new faculty hires at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine (COM). The program matches new hires with a more experienced faculty peer, designated by the department chair, who can assist them during preboarding and the first 3 months of employment with UF's College of Medicine.
The Department Onboarding Ambassador serves as a resource for navigating the complexities of the college, university, and/or UF Health, fostering a sense of community within the workplace, and promoting communication and collaboration between faculty members. Through this program, new faculty hires can receive the guidance and support they need to successfully integrate into their new roles and understand the department's culture and structure.
What is a Department Onboarding Ambassador?
A department onboarding ambassador is a current faculty member that will pair with a new faculty hire once they have signed their offer letter and through their first 3 months of employment.
They will primarily offer support and guidance regarding the department work elements and workplace culture. This can include answering questions, providing tips on how to navigate the workplace and introducing the new hire to other employees.
Why have a Department Onboarding Ambassador?
The purpose of having a department onboarding ambassador for new faculty hires is to provide them with a positive and welcoming experience during their transition into the organization.
The department onboarding ambassador serves as a reliable, motivated point-of-contact for the new faculty member's basic questions regarding the unwritten norms, experience and culture at the organization and can provide them with the type of context that may not be available in the employee handbook. The department onboarding ambassador can offer guidance on a range of topics, such as identifying relevant stakeholders, navigating department specific job elements, and approaching problem-solving strategically.
Workplaces are communities, built around the relationships we have with our peers. When these relationships are strong, they can be a source of energy, learning, and support.
- Harvard Business Review
