Editor's note: Due to schedule changes following the March 23 announcement of his nomination to the World Bank presidency, President Kim will not be able to attend the Staff Forum as previously planned. The story below has been updated to reflect this change.

All Dartmouth staff are invited to share ideas and input on the strategic planning process at a Staff Forum on Thursday, April 5.

Provost Carol Folt will speak about strategic planning at the Staff Forum. All Dartmouth staff are invited to attend and share ideas. (photo by Rob Bossi)

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Collis Common Ground and will also include updates on the new Dartmouth Health Connect primary care practice and the College’s wellness initiative. Doors will open at 10:45 a.m. for coffee and light refreshments.

For those unable to attend in person, the forum will be broadcast live on DarTV and ideas may be submitted via an online questionnaire.

“The forum is an opportunity to share information, but more importantly, it is a time to engage staff in discussions on significant topics,” says President Jim Yong Kim. “The contributions of staff are critical to Dartmouth and the strategic planning process."

Provost Carol Folt is leading strategic planning and will speak at the forum about the seven working groups. There are nearly 200 faculty, students, and staff actively contributing to strategic planning as members of working groups and committees.

Myron McCoo, vice president for Human Resources and co-chair of the Workforce of the Future strategic planning working group, will participate in the Staff Forum. The event includes updates on Dartmouth Health Connect and employee wellness programs. (photo courtesy of Myron McCoo)

One of those groups, Workforce of the Future, is focused on identifying ways to create and sustain a dynamic, effective, and mission-driven workforce that meets the College’s needs as a leading institution. The open discussion portion of the forum will focus on staff feedback to the following questions posed by the Workforce of the Future group:

• What are the most important factors that would help you to become and/or remain effective and innovative in your daily work?
• What can Dartmouth do to support the workforce of the future?
• What are the essential tools, practices, and technologies that should be in place for Dartmouth’s workforce of the future?
• What can be done to enable better collaboration within and outside of your organization/department?
• What are the top three innovations you would recommend for Dartmouth’s workforce to be on the cutting edge of higher education?

The Workforce of the Future working group is co-chaired by Myron McCoo, vice president for Human Resources; Aine Donovan, director of the Ethics Institute and research associate professor; and Lisa Celone, chief operating officer of Campus Planning and Facilities. They will all participate in the forum.

The update on Dartmouth Health Connect, which opened on March 14, will be delivered by Dr. Joel Lazar, one of the two physicians in the new primary care practice. Dartmouth Health Connect focuses on improving health and reducing barriers to accessing care. It is open to all employees and their dependents 18 years of age and older who are on a Dartmouth-sponsored health plan. Melissa Miner, director of health promotion and wellness, will speak about Dartmouth’s efforts to support employee wellness.

President Jim Yong Kim began the strategic planning process to challenge the community to work together to chart a bold and aspirational path for Dartmouth’s future in anticipation of its 250th anniversary in 2019. The process is expected to conclude in December 2012.