Each month from September through May, the Administrators’ Forum brings together employees from every division to engage with university leaders, get updates on key initiatives, and learn about key developments and innovations across campus. Typically held via Zoom, the forum offers a direct line to decision-makers, making it a vital platform for connection, collaboration, and clarity.
A New Spin on a Familiar Format
The final Admin Forum of the 2024-25 academic year looked a little different. Held in person at McNair Hall’s Anderson Family Commons, the May session swapped the typical presentation style for an interactive, small-group exercise: a World Café. After breakfast and a brief summer project update, participants engaged in discussions focused on three big questions:
- What topics do you want to hear more about?
- What are the most effective ways to engage with you?
- How are you using AI to support and enhance your job?
With more than a dozen tables and multiple discussion rounds, this setup maximized participation and allowed voices from all corners of campus to be heard.
Insights that Matter
The insights gathered during the World Café were rich, layered, and clear in their themes.
On Engagement and Communication:
Participants expressed a strong preference for varied, visual, and streamlined communication. Fast Five continues to be a fan favorite for its brevity and visual appeal. Many attendees asked for alternatives to email—such as QR codes, video updates, or department-based “Speaker of the House” liaisons. While Zoom and in-person meetings were both valued, hybrid options and flexible formats (like self-paced videos) were flagged as important for accessibility.
On Topics of Interest:
Staff want to stay informed about university strategy, campus growth, and operational changes. There’s high demand for deeper dives into initiatives like Momentous and job restructuring efforts tied to VSIP. Other hot topics include wellness, new technologies (especially tools like Asana, Power BI, and ChatGPT), and practical guidance on using platforms effectively.
On Artificial Intelligence:
AI is already playing a role in the workplace at Rice—from editing documents and summarizing meetings to generating visuals and brainstorming ideas. While tools like ChatGPT, Zoom AI, and Grammarly are popular, staff want more training, clarity on data security, and university-wide guidance on what’s approved and safe to use.
What’s Next
The insights gathered through this forum are already informing planning for next year’s Admin Forum sessions. Expect to see updates based on what we heard—like more focused and streamlined communications, tech and tools training, and deeper connections to strategic initiatives. These conversations will also help shape communications and engagement programming across the university.
Stay Engaged
Your voice matters. If you didn’t get a chance to attend in May—or if new thoughts have come to mind—don’t hesitate to share your feedback with the Admin Forum team by completing this brief survey. You can also visit the Admin Forum website to view past presentations and stay up to date on what’s coming next.