Facilities Operations Retreat
Offered annually, the Facilities Operations Retreat at The University of Scranton is a one-day retreat held at the University’s Chapman Lake Retreat House. It allows Facilities Operations Department personnel to get away from their daily routines and engage their colleagues in conversation about their roles within the University. The retreat’s programming generally includes a morning talk, individual reflection time, and small group sharing. Participants are encouraged to think both about their own spirituality and about how their work and vocation relate to the University’s mission.
1. Provide an opportunity for Facilities Operations team members to reflect on their work and their relationship to the University’s mission.
2. Build mission-oriented community among Facilities Operations team members, attendees, and the retreat leadership team.
3. Engage University community members who are not frequently an audience for mission-oriented programming, and whose work schedule can create a sense of separation from the day-to-day rhythms of other groups within the University community.
1. Beyond any programming, exercise, or talk, the most important and impactful aspect of this program is the implicit message that taking time away from daily labor for reflection and contemplation is a valued and supported part of University life.
2. Workers’ day-to-day scheduling is more closely directed by a supervisor than is the case for others on campus (e.g., professors). Thus, it is important to cultivate support from Facilities Operations Department managers, whose approval is necessary for employee attendance.