The Commit Series and the Act Series were developed in response to the university strategic plan (Here and Next) as a set of ongoing resources to support staff & faculty in the translation of institutional commitments into day to day actions.

The highly experiential sessions anchor in specific institutional language offering facilitated learning, skill building, and on-going practice through courses, modules, and workshops. Staff & faculty report that they appreciate connecting with and hearing from colleagues across the university, as well as the opportunity for professional development in core communication, situational awareness, and project management skills.

The Commit Series and the Act Series are joined by individuals, leveraged by self-organized groups, used strategically toward team and/or department goals, and have been adopted as part of certificate and/or professional development programs for schools and other large parts of the university.

Join over 900 staff & faculty on the journey in a virtual or in person session today.

Some things to know

  • Because all sessions are designed to give staff and faculty dedicated space to work through real opportunities and ideas, classes are highly experiential and participants should come ready to engage.
  • While staff and faculty may start with either the Commit or Act series, session within each series are sequential. Classes build on each other and are designed to be taken over a series of months with time in between to apply the class experience to day-to-day work.
  • Sessions are designed for all skill and experience levels to bring to — and take from — the experience what is most needed in their context.

There are multiple ways to get started —

The Commit Series

Many staff & faculty start here, and some parts of the university have strongly recommended or set performance goals around completing the Commit Series.

Across seven two-hour classes, participants

  • Become familiar WashU’s mission, goals, and intentions regarding the experience of all staff, faculty, and students
  • Examine their role as individuals in the collective work of realizing those goals and intentions
  • Explore the role of effective dialogue and build and practice dialogue skills
  • Acquire tools for identifying the services, processes, and tasks in their day-to-day work that most impact the experience of all staff, faculty, and students

Each class is offered in a 3-4 week rotation and participants are encouraged to move at their own pace.

The Act Series

Whether the experience of all staff, faculty, and students is core to your day-to-day work or you are looking for practical ways to increase belonging across the university through your work, the Act Series is here to help. Across the series participants will

  • Explore, name, and practice how individual roles work collectively toward the experience of all staff, faculty, and students
  • Build and practice tactical communication skills in support of effective teamwork, interpersonal dialogue, and inclusive workplace practices
  • Acquire, strengthen, and practice skills necessary to identify, articulate, and implement efforts to increase belonging in the workplace
  • Explore and practice tools that support ongoing collective efforts to meet university commitments as articulated in Here and Next and institutional and mission and vision documents

Sessions are designed to double as hands-on work time for participants’ day-to-day work in their area of the university.

I’m not sure where to start/I have questions/can you guide me?

Yes! One of the best ways to leverage either series is to be strategic about making the most of it. We love to think through this with our colleagues. Use the link below to sign up for a 60 minute session designed to co-think with you.