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Employee Experience and Engagement Challenge

Foster Employee Engagement and Community!

Staff Assembly Ambassadors are committed to impacting our community's staff experience and work environment, helping to make UC ANR the best place to work, live, and learn within the UC system! 

The Employee Experience & Engagement (E3) Challenge promotes staff engagement, connectedness, and community at our office locations throughout the state. Do you have ideas to help encourage teamwork and help staff feel valued and connected to their work? This is the challenge for you!

Funding for activities are based on a 50/50 match with requests up to $1,000. Applicants are expected to discuss and confirm funding with their county directors before applying for the E3 Challenge.

Applications must be submitted by a local Ambassador. 

THE SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR 2024-25 FY WILL OPEN IN FALL.

2023-24 Approved Activities

  • Hopland REC visited the Bodega Marine Lab and Bodega Marine Reserve to meet staff and stewards to learn about research support methods, community education and interpretation on site, and enjoy the reserve landscape. 

  • South Coast REC identified their leadership strengths before putting them to the test with a game of bocce ball.

  • UCCE Riverside County hosted a picnic at UCR Botanic Gardens for a workshop on work-life balance with activities led by Elizabeth Moon, Director of Workplace Inclusion and Belonging.

  • UCCE Shasta & Trinity counties engaged in a cooking class to learn proper knife management while in the kitchen and new recipes for vegan meals.

  • UCCE San Joaquin County toured Corto, a local olive oil company. During their visit, they learned about extension practices as a local business and ended the day with a tasting of Corto's olive oil.

  • UCCE Capitol Corridor planned a picnic in the park and partnered with their local UC Master Gardeners for a scavenger hunt at the UC Davis Arboretum to expand staff's knowledge on plant identification and management.

  • UCCE Placer/Nevada County visited the Empire Mine State Park for a hand's on learning experience about the California Gold Rush and its impact on the local Nisenan Tribe. Doing so provided an opportunity to discuss how to best serve and collaborate with tribal communities.

  • UCCE Marin County focused on building stronger partnerships with local tribes and educational opportunities. After completing a hike on Angel Island, they gathered with the Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin for a facilitated discussion on collaboration and engaged in an informal brownbag book club with a book of their choice on Native history and identity.