Employee Engagement
Welcome to the home of Employee Engagement at the University of Delaware where we're working to create an environment that supports personal wellbeing, purpose-driven work and a sense of belonging for our community of Blue Hens.
Our wellbeing and recognition programs support physical and mental health, connection and community building for faculty, staff, retirees and their household members.
Walktober participants log 306,164,942 steps
UD’s annual fall-themed activity challenge, Walktober, was capped off with a shoe drive and group walk on Thursday, Nov. 9, when employees gathered to celebrate participants' collective achievements. Beginning on Sept. 18 and ending on Oct. 29, 859 faculty, staff, retirees and household members recorded over 394,623 minutes (about nine months) of exercise, collected 24,746 total leaves and logged 306,164,942 steps — equivalent to around six times around the world.
UD Mental Health First Aid Directory
These faculty and staff are certified in Mental Health First Aid, and open to connecting with members of the UD community to offer support. These individuals are trained to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary.
You may email these individuals directly at any time.
- Mental Health Resources
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Family and Caregiving
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Resources
Mental health care looks different for all of us. These resources are available to UD employees at no cost, to support you in proactively protecting your mental health and finding professional care when you need it. Recovery is possible. You are not alone.
In the event of a mental health crisis, please dial or text 988
Learn more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Mental Health First Aid Training teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults ages 18 and older, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Class schedule and registration
Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training can help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year. Class schedule and registration
Mindfulness and meditation help to support positive mental health by increasing resilience, emotional intelligence and mind/body connection. In addition to the SKY Happiness retreats listed within our wellbeing programs, there are many no-cost resources available to UD employees to support regular practice.
SKY Meditation Retreat is a 9-hour well-being retreat. This retreat is a deep immersion in breathwork and meditation practices, social connection, emotional intelligence and mindful leadership. Research has shown that SKY significantly reduces depression and anxiety while increasing feelings of well-being. Class Schedule and Registration
Meditation On-Demand-Use your LinkedIn Learning UD credentials to access no-cost meditation and mindfulness videos
Viva Integration-use Microsoft Teams to add the viva app to your sidebar for access to Headspace meditations + tools to protect your time
Meditation and Prayer Spaces on Campus
- Morris Library: Reflection Space
- Trabant Student Center: Interfaith Space
- STAR Campus: Labyrinth
Nursing and Lactation
Campus Lactation Room Locations
- 346 Hullihen Hall
- 128 Perkins Student Center
- 214A McDowell Hall
- 207E Morris Library
- Tower at STAR, Room 354 (100 Discovery Blvd.), 6 a.m.-6 p.m., parking available in front of building
ComPsych Guidance Resources is the administrator for UD’s Employee Assistance Program. This program is available exclusively for UD employees and their dependents. The program offers resources to consult whenever and wherever you need them. Members will have a toll-free number at 877-527-4742 directly for 24/7 access to a GuidanceConsultant®.
ComPsych also provides access to a comprehensive website with articles, podcasts, webinars and other helpful tools. Use “State of Delaware” for the user ID.
- Confidential Emotional Support
- Work-Life Solutions: Child and Elder Care, Pet Care, Event Planning and more
- Legal Guidance
- Financial Resources
- Identity Theft Services
Whatever your fitness level, these resources help support the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of UD employees through movement and mind/body connection.
Walktober: UD’s annual 6-week Fall online physical activity challeng. Travel the world virtually, as you accumulate steps/activity minutes, receive weekly wellness tips, and have access to a library filled with healthy recipes.
The Carpenter Sports Building (Lil Bob): Full-time UD employees and retirees may access the Lil Bob recreation facilities with their UD ID. Misc-wage employees, spouses, visiting scholars and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members may access the Lil Bob for a fee.
Group Fitness Classes: Unlimited access to group classes like yoga, Pilates and cycling are available to faculty and staff with the purchase of a Campus Recreation Fitness Package ($75 or wellness dollars per year).
Private group fitness class: schedule a private fitness class for your team through Campus Recreation’s Fitness2U program
Exercise Counseling: UD’s clinic offers exercise programs that are developed and supervised by Clinical Exercise Physiologists who specialize in developing safe and effective exercise programs.
Fitness Discounts: Exercise equipment, gym memberships and virtual fitness programs are available to all UD faculty and staff.
Hen High Five
Up high, down low – it's never too late to show your appreciation with a Hen High Five. Why a high five? The high five, which is often used as a gesture of greeting and celebration, is an instantaneous way of telling a person that they are important and deserve to be recognized, which can strengthen connections between colleagues, improve workplace engagement and boost wellbeing for both the giver and recipient. So, what are you waiting for?
Take five to share your appreciation of a colleague!
Congratulations Raffle Winners!
Hen High Five recipients are entered into a monthly raffle for a chance to win $100 (pre-tax). Congrats to these Blue Hens!
Staff Excellence Awards
The Staff Excellence Award program recognizes staff members' contributions to the University of Delaware community with monetary awards. Three individual awards of $2,000 and one team award of $4,000 will be distributed each Fall and Spring to staff who exemplify UD values.
Monetary award levels, a careful selection process and community recognition activities have been developed with consideration of peer institution and UD faculty award best practices in mind. The program will be supported by a diverse committee of UD community members.