Information Technology Services (ITS)
Be a buddy! ITS buddy program seeks volunteers
Published on: November 28, 2024
“The buddy program pairs an experienced staff member—what we call a ‘buddy-mentor’—with a newly-appointed employee,” explains Laurie Harrison, Director, Digital Learning Innovation at ITS.
“The goal is to foster a collaborative and supportive environment at ITS while cultivating a sense of belonging and mutual respect,” says Harrison. “We know all of these things are key aspects of successful and flourishing teams, and so we’re really excited to be offering a program that will strengthen interpersonal relationships throughout ITS.”
Employees who volunteer to be buddy-mentors will connect periodically with their new buddy through email, chat, phone or in person in order to provide general information and resources, engage in informal conversations to build rapport, help new staff expand their professional network, participate in monthly group meet-ups or campus tours and more.
The time commitment for a buddy-mentor is approximately 30 minutes per week for three months.
“I joined ITS in November of 2023, and I was automatically matched with a buddy-mentor and added to the buddy program Teams channel,” says Eden Tran, a ServiceNow Developer within EASI’s Enterprise Shared Services team.
“My buddy-mentor and I would spend roughly 15 minutes each week talking through Teams chat, and we’d also talk at every buddy meetup,” says Tran, adding that his experience as a new buddy was especially useful as someone who did not study or previously work in a role at the University. “It was so nice to have someone that could help me learn more about the campus and explore new areas of it,” he says.
Through volunteering, buddy-mentors stand to gain valuable experience as well. Whether seeking to advance their leadership or communications skills, or simply to meet new people and get to know the ITS community better, buddy-mentors can expand their own personal and professional networks through the program while also providing valuable service to the community.
Belinda McKay, Executive Assistant to the Acting Chief Information Security Officer, had been with ITS for three years when she decided to volunteer as a buddy-mentor, saying she wanted to help new staff members connect with someone and learn about campus amenities.
“The experience is very beneficial,” says McKay, “and I would definitely recommend it to colleagues!”
“We had coffee, explored places around campus for food, entertainment and points of interest,” says McKay. “Buddies are also invited to any buddy meet-ups for site visits and campus tours, where they can visit interesting spots like the Fisher Rare Book Library, the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions server room, or behind the scenes at the Rotman School of Management’s IT facilities.”
The ITS buddy program is a unique opportunity for ITS team members to make a big difference in the experiences and onboarding of new staff. By becoming a buddy-mentor, you can help create a welcoming and supportive environment that empowers new employees to thrive. To learn more, visit the ITS buddy program detailed guide, or contact the ITS Education, Awareness & Culture team at its.eda@utoronto.ca.