Clara Wells began her career at the University of Iowa nearly two decades ago not knowing where that decision would lead. Since then, she has risen through the ranks from a custodian at the hospital to a custodial supervisor in Facilities Management. Her story is one of the tens of thousands made possible by the UI and its commitment to fostering an environment where employees can grow personally and professionally.

In support of the University of Iowa Strategic Plan 2022-2027, University Human Resources (UHR), is working to improve the experience of Merit staff so they, too—like Wells—can grow in their careers here.

In February 2023, UHR facilitated an Employee Journey Mapping workshop with 16 participants, including 11 Merit employees with an average tenure of 12.5 years at the UI. The lifecycle project considers the experience of a UI Merit employee beginning at "Job Acceptance" and ending at "Former Employee," with a focus on the first three years of employment.

Next steps in the Employee Journey Mapping project include the Merit staff retention initiative—funded in part by a public-private partnership (P3 grant); prioritizing areas of focus, including onboarding, career development and supervisor training; and mapping the employment lifecycle of other employees like Professional & Scientific (P&S) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Learn more about Clara Wells’s story and read the full article here.