When faculty at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science want to give a suggestion to the dean, they might not know where to start. Make a submission to the online suggestion box? Attend a faculty-staff workshop? Talk to the ombudsperson?

Over the past four years, McCormick Dean John Birge has made building communication among students, faculty, staff and alumni a priority, said Gina Myerson, the school’s director of marketing.

The latest initiative is the Communications Task Force Committee, which will develop focus groups for faculty, staff and students. The groups will meet at the end of March to discuss their communication concerns. Birge then will address the results at the third annual faculty-staff workshops, held in June.

“We hope that feedback from the focus groups and survey will help us develop constructive ways to improve communication at McCormick,” the dean said in a statement.

Communication is important so the administration can effectively address concerns, but it also creates a sense of community and a better work environment, Myerson said.

“We want the best people here, we want them to come, we want them to enjoy their work, and we want them to stay,” she said.

The programs seem to be working, said Abraham Haddad, an electrical and computer engineering professor.

“Everyone is enjoying being here, having their voices be heard,” he said. “Anytime I’ve asked the dean for anything so far, I haven’t heard the word ‘no’ yet.”

McCormick is the second-largest school on campus, with nearly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as 155 full-time faculty.