‘Tis the Holiday Season – as your fall term rushes to the finish line, this is a great time of the year to let those you work with just how much you appreciate them! Certainly, you can do this anytime during the academic year, but the Holiday Season provides a wonderful backdrop to your efforts.
For years, our online program distributed an electronic greeting card at this time of year (usually a Jib-Jab primarily because it was fun-loving and we could include everyone from our department in the card. It can be a great way to express good wishes and appreciation to everyone you work with in a given year. There is a free version and also a subscription option. Otherwise, there are also free ecard solutions to at least facilitate distribution.
If you have some time bandwidth, you can also create small candy presents to those you work with on campus. A small bag comprised of a few pieces of chocolates is always appreciated. My campus historically hosted an annual program called “random acts of chocolate.” It was coordinated by our PD office – you could identify up to 5 people you wanted to send a candy bar to ($1 per bar – it was a fundraiser for the PD office as well). They took care of the distribution and there was a label on the bar expressing appreciation and identifying the individual or department sending the candy. You could simply internalize this as a way to recognize those you work with/appreciate. We used the candy bars from Trader Joe’s (bundled in 3 bar packages)–very affordable Belgium chocolate. There are many options–and it is a very appreciated item.
I also like to bake–and have made homemade items to share. It is important to make a list of ingredients to be respectful of those with certain allergies. During the Holidays, I often make homemade “krumkake” (translates as “crumb cake” –a Norwegian “cookie.” They also are very well-received and I have many that actually look forward to my sharing each year. When I first started at our campus, there was a colleague that made homemade rum balls–and would announce they were available. They would be gobbled up in minutes–and admittedly, they were extremely “flavorful” rum balls (read that as “a lot of rum in the recipe). The thing is, it was popular and really facilitated a culture of appreciation.
As is evident, this tends to be an “out of pocket” expense–but as an administrator–or colleague – you can manage the cost–and I encourage you to be creative. The outcome is worth it. A great way to maintain working relationships based on a positive act of appreciation.
Recommended Reading
AI Literacy Through AI Bots In The Classroom (ITC article submitted from ITC AI Affinity Group), CCDaily
We need AI literacy. We need to understand the impact, how to use AI to elevate our work, and how to recognize AI-generated content. This need falls into the hands of educators.
Leadership Practices For Cultivating Values And Belonging In the Workplace, Educause
Cultivating a sense of value and belonging is critical for retaining talented staff and driving organizational success. Effective leaders foster a supportive culture by promoting adaptability, supporting professional growth, maintaining accountability, encouraging open communication, and celebrating both individual and team achievements.
The EdTech Blindspot: Investing In Learning Technologies, Not Just Teaching, eCampus News
Buying technology for technology's sake helps no one--not students, not faculty, and certainly not institutional outcomes
Establishing ROI For EdTech Tools, Educause
ROI for technology solutions is an emerging practice in higher education that offers promise for helping institutions balance financial constraints with continued innovation.
Preparing For Generation Alpha: What Colleges Need To Understand Now, eCampus News
Colleges that modernize infrastructure, adopt responsible AI, and build inclusive hybrid experiences can strengthen relevance
Higher Education Faces “Deteriorating” 2026 Outlook, Fitch Says, Higher Ed Dive
A shrinking pipeline of students, uncertainty about state and federal support, and rising expenses could all hurt college finances, according to analysts.
