Engagement & Recognition

Help staff feel valued, connected and engaged

Supervisors shape the employee experience every day. Explore practical ideas, Purdue resources and ready-to-use tools to recognize contributions, strengthen connection, support growth and build an engaging workplace.

Employee journey

Support the staff experience at every stage

Engagement and recognition are most closely connected to Connect, Experience & Enable, but they begin when an employee first considers Purdue and continue throughout the employee journey.

Explore & Join

Show candidates what it feels like to work at Purdue and how staff contributions matter.

Hire & Start Strong

Welcome staff, establish clear expectations and build connection from day one.

Learn & Grow

Recognize progress and create access to learning, mentoring and development.

Navigate & Advance

Support career conversations, mobility, stretch opportunities and future goals.

Connect, Experience & Enable

Create belonging, invite employee voice, recognize contribution and remove barriers to success.

Start Here

What are you trying to do today?

Begin with the employee experience you want to create. Each pathway brings together ideas, Purdue tools, examples and downloadable resources.

Recognize Great Work

Find everyday recognition ideas, Purdue e-cards, Bravo information and ready-to-use messages.

Celebrate a Milestone

Recognize service anniversaries, promotions, certificatiosn, project completion and other meaninful moments.

Build Team Engagement

Strengthen communication, trust, employee voice, connection and belonging.

Support Employee Growth

Use career conversations, mentoring, cross-trinaing and stretch opportunities.

Connect Staff to Purdue

Help employees experience Purdue's mission, traditions, people, events and opportunities.

Find a practical Tool

Access scripts, checklists, calendars, conversation guides and decision tools.

Recognition

Make recognition timely, personal, specific and meaningful

Recognition includes formal Purdue programs, but it also happens through the everyday actions supervisors and coworkers take to show that a contribution matters.

Send a Purdue Recognition E-Card

Use the Manager Recognition Website to send a Purdue-branded e-card for an accomplishment, milestone, welcome or simple thank-you.

Explore Purdue Awards and Recognition

Learn about Purdue staff recognition programs, eligibility and nomination opportunities.

Keep Recognition Simple

Thank someone directly and name their impact.
Send a short Teams or email message.
Recognize a contribution publically.
Write a personal note.
Celebrate a shared accomplishment.
Offer development or visibility opportunities.
Use an e-card or formal program when it fits the situation.

When should I use what?

Everyday help or a small win

Immediate verbal thanks, Teams message or short email

Quick Recognition Scripts

Consistently strong contribution

Personal note, one-on-one recognition or e-card

Recognition Preferences

Recognition E-Cards

Major project or exceptional impact

Leader recognition, Bravo nomination or formal award consideration

Recognition Decision Guide

Team milestone or peak season completion

Team celebration, shared acknowledgment or appreciation event

Team Connection Ideas

Service anniversary / career milestone

Personal, Purdue e-card, meeting recognition or service program.

Milestone Recognition Checklist

Engagement

Create the conditions for staff to do their best work

Recognition is one part of engagement. Staff are also more likely to feel engaged when expectations are clear, supervisors listen, growth is supported, relationships are strong and employees understand how their work contributes to Purdue.

Communicate consistently

Set clear expectations, share relevant updates and follow through on commitments.

Invite employee voice

Use regular check-ins, listening questions and team retrospectives.

Support growth

Recognize potential through mentoring, cross-training, stretch assignments and career conversations.

Build belonging

Create inclusive meetings, shared practices, and meaningful opportunities to connect.

Strengthen trust

Communicate honestly, invite feedback, recognize fairly, and address concerns.

Connect to purpose

Help staff understand how their work contributes to Purdue's mission and community.

Learn from around Purdue

Ideas already working across the university

Explore examples of how Purdue teams are building connection, recognizing contributions and creating an engaging employee experience.

Create connection through creativity

College of Engineering

The College of Engineering introduced Call to Artists during the 2025–26 school year. Employees and students were invited to submit artwork for display in Neil Armstrong Hall for a 12-month period, giving members of the community an opportunity to share their creativity and contribute to a more vibrant and welcoming environment. The program is intended to become an annual event.

Try it with your team: Create an opportunity for employees to share an interest, talent or creative contribution beyond their day-to-day work.

Make space for people to share their talents

Mechanical Engineering

Ten Minutes of Talent is an annual program sponsored by Mechanical Engineering. Employees and students can sign up to perform during designated 10-minute time slots in the Neil Armstrong Hall Atrium. The program provides a brief mental break during the day while giving members of the Purdue community an opportunity to share talents colleagues may not otherwise see.

Try it with your team: Create a low-pressure opportunity for employees to share a talent, hobby or interest with others.

Build social connection intentionally

Administrative Operations

Administrative Operations holds social gatherings around its Senior Leadership meetings. Activities have included game nights, dinners and Purdue sporting events, creating informal opportunities for employees to spend time together and build relationships.

Try it with your team: Add an occasional optional, low-cost activity that gives employees time to connect outside the normal work agenda.

Connect through service and shared experiences

Intercollegiate Athletics

The Boiler Crew is a volunteer group of Athletics staff members that coordinates community service, engagement and recreational opportunities for staff to participate in together.

Try it with your team: Identify a Purdue or community service opportunity employees can choose to participate in together.

Create a recurring moment to reconnect

Student Life

Student Life holds an Annual Fall Kickoff Event as one of its division-wide engagement efforts.

Try it with your team: Build a recurring kickoff or gathering into the year to reconnect, look ahead and create a shared team experience.

Make recognition part of regular communication

Information Technology

Information Technology uses a monthly IT newsletter to celebrate employee milestones and accomplishments.

Try it with your team: Add a recurring recognition section to an existing team newsletter, update or communication rather than waiting for a special event.

Use lighthearted peer recognition

Global Partnerships

Global Partnerships has used superlative polls that allow coworkers to nominate one another, with recipients receiving fun prizes and certificates.

Try it with your team: Create an occasional lighthearted peer-recognition activity that reflects your team’s culture while giving employees a chance to recognize one another.

Make accomplishments visible throughout the year

Purdue Online

Purdue Online’s Great Place to Work Committee highlights individual and team accomplishments through its Teams hub. A weekly update from the senior vice president also recognizes accomplishments.

Try it with your team: Use communication channels employees already follow to routinely highlight individual and team contributions.

Create connection, learning & community in different ways

Human Resources

The HR Engagement Committee helps shape activities throughout the year. Teams engagement posts, lunch-and-learns, virtual and onsite gatherings, pop-up coffee and other informal opportunities give employees different ways to connect. The HR Learning Hub provides an ongoing place for employees to share and explore learning.

Try it with your team: Build engagement across a few different channels. For example, combine a regular learning opportunity and an informal way to connect. Gather employee feedback, then use what you hear to shape the next activity.

Have a great engagement or recognition idea working in your area? We’d love to hear about it. Share your example with Talent Experience and Communications at tecomm@purdue.edu for consideration to be added to the “Learn from Around Purdue” section of the website.

Supervisor toolkit

Ready-to-use tools for everyday leadership

Explore all of the resources

Use these resources when you need an idea, a conversation starter, or a practical next step.