Highlighting a Year of The Trail Ahead

Last Year, the U of A piloted The Trail Ahead to enhance the employee onboarding experience. Guided under the university's 150 Forward Employer of Choice Strategic Pillar, The Trail Ahead reflects a campuswide investment in people and emphasizes an onboarding experience that helps employees feel welcomed, informed and connected from day one.

Now fully implemented, The Trail Ahead features a redesigned new employee orientation and the introduction of a new supervisor orientation. Together, these programs establish a shared foundation for long-term success.

Beyond orientations, The Trail Ahead continues community building and connection throughout an employee's first year of employment. Semesterly new employee networking events encourage relationship building across departments, while the fall and spring virtual employee resource fairs introduce employees to valuable campus services. To get new employees outside of their main location on campus, monthly guided scavenger hunt tours are held. Timely check-in communication is also now standard at 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, six months and 12 months of employment.

Upcoming 2026 Trail Ahead Events

• April 13 — New Employee Orientation (every Monday) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• April 14 — Spring Virtual Employee Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Starting in April — Guided Campus Scavenger Hunt Tour
• Starting in April — Extended Golf Cart Campus Tours
• July 21 — Summer New Employee Networking Event

These important programs build a confident and secure start, and a meaningful future, for some of the newest members of the campus community. Through this cohesive and supportive onboarding journey, the university continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing its reputation as an employer of choice.