University Operations Staff Gather for Meeting With President Shafik and COO Holloway
Staff within Columbia Facilities & Operations, Health, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Technology Ventures were invited to attend this first-of-its-kind meeting.
President Minouche Shafik recently met with the staff of University operations in a presentation and discussion on strategic priorities.
Joined by Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway and operations leadership, the president greeted staff and shared her strategic vision for the University, highlighting the critical role that staff have to play.
The president acknowledged the campus events of the last year and the impact on staff members working in day-to-day operations.
Looking ahead, the president outlined the work to be done in academic, operational, and community priority areas.
“You, the people in this room, are essential to realizing the University’s strategic priorities. You build the spaces that allow for world-class research, you hire the people that fulfill the academic mission, you make sure the community is safe, you feed people, you care for their health, you connect people through technology. The work you do is vital to this institution,” President Shafik said.
The president and Holloway took questions from the audience, ranging from campus access, operational efficiency, space utilization, building state of good repair, and Columbia’s role within the local community.
In discussing the role operations staff members have to play in driving the strategic plan, Holloway announced upcoming training opportunities and tools to be provided for teams centered around operational excellence. He called on individuals to push for continuous improvement and act as agents of change. “Everyone has an opportunity and responsibility to make our operations and processes better across all of the areas we support,” Holloway said.
All 2,700 staff within Columbia Facilities & Operations, Health, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Technology Ventures were invited to attend this first-of-its-kind meeting.
“I enjoyed getting together with colleagues from across different departments and having the chance to hear from University leadership about what’s important to them. Having that level of transparency is great and reminds me that we’re all on the same team,” said Peter McHugh, an attendee from Columbia University Human Resources.
“I appreciated the acknowledgement that it was a difficult year. It highlights that we, as a University, still have a lot of work to do. Progress always requires work. It was helpful to hear the strategic vision for the University, how operating departments are integral to moving it forward, and what I can do to contribute to that success,” added Sheila Amato, Columbia University Human Resources.