The Faculty 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 who can assist them during preboarding and the first few months of their employment with UF's College of Medicine.
The Onboarding Ambassador serves as a resource for navigating the complexities of the college, univeristy 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, while Onboarding Ambassadors can develop their communication and interpersonal skills and gain a better understanding of the department's culture and structure.
What is an Onboarding Ambassador?
An 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 in a positive and encouraging way regarding the work environment 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 an Onboarding Ambassador?
The purpose of having an Onboarding Ambassador for new faculty hires is to provide them with a positive and welcoming experience during their transition into the organization. The onboarding ambassador serves as a reliable, motivated point-of-contact for the new faculty members' 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 onboarding ambassador can offer guidance on a range of topics, such as identifying relevant stakeholders, navigating different organizations, and approaching problem-solving strategically.
One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination. - John C. Maxwell
