Communications

Culture at USF

Dear colleagues:

Many of you have heard me say that culture eats strategy for breakfast, and I have often followed that by noting it enjoys a full day鈥檚 meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What I mean is that no matter how strong a strategy may be, its success depends on the people who bring it to life and the culture in which they work. A healthy culture helps organizations achieve ambitious goals, navigate challenges and create a sense of shared purpose. That is why, alongside our work to develop USF's next strategic plan, we are also taking a close look at institutional culture.

Since arriving at USF, I have listened carefully to faculty and staff across our university. Those conversations reinforced what I already believed: We have a highly motivated and engaged community that values the university鈥檚 trajectory and its growing reputation. I also heard recurring concerns about bureaucracy, inefficient processes, communication challenges and systems that make it harder to get work done. As USF has grown, so has the complexity of operating a university our size.

I asked Senior Vice President Eric Eisenberg to lead a Culture Analysis and Development Project focused on understanding our culture and identifying opportunities for improvement.

The team鈥檚 work is already well underway. In April and May, they reviewed feedback from previous culture initiatives, employee feedback, presidential town halls, campus visits and college tours. They identified areas where additional input is needed and have begun to identify recurring themes and opportunities for action.

Through September, the team will conduct additional inquiry activities, such as surveys, focus groups and open forums. Early in the fall semester, they will develop recommendations for both near-term improvements and longer-term initiatives.

By Nov. 1, they will begin implementing initiatives that strengthen the employee experience and support our next strategic plan. I encourage you to follow the team鈥檚 progress online. We will share their recommendations online and you can expect regular updates from me.

Please join me in thanking the colleagues serving on the project team. Project updates and the timeline for this work are available on the culture project website. You can share your feedback on the culture there, too.

  • Eric Eisenberg, University Strategic Partnerships, senior vice president
  • Bianca Johnson, University Strategic Partnerships, office administrator and executive assistant
  • Aaron Nichols, University Communications & Marketing, director of research and engagement
  • Jessica Samaniego, Office of the President, executive project manager
  • Paul Spector, USF Muma College of Business School of Management part-time professor and Department of Psychology distinguished emeritus professor
  • Joann Farrell Quinn, associate dean, Division of Faculty Development; director, Office of Ethics, Leadership, and Professionalism, Morsani College of Medicine; director, OELP
  • Tanya Vomacka, Office of the Provost, chief of staff and associate vice provost, strategic initiatives and communication 

If culture truly does eat strategy for breakfast, then building a culture that supports excellence, accountability, collaboration and success is essential to achieving our ambitions as a university. True culture change is organic and takes time, but the path forward starts when we align systems, leadership practices and communications with the values that already define the institution.

I look forward to sharing updates as this important work continues.
 
Moez Limayem, PhD
President