Survey results report employee satisfaction
By Careth Eaton and Emily Talbert
Collegian staff reporters
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Collegian Front Page
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On Sept. 5, Dick Merriman, president, emailed to all faculty and staff the results of a job satisfaction survey that was conducted last spring.
Merriman said the survey is part of the school's accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
The survey is adapted from The Baldridge Quality Initiative website. The school chose the survey because it is used by hundreds of companies in the nation, and they want to be able to compare results.
All full-time employees of the college were asked to complete the survey, but no one was required to take it. Two-thirds of the employees completed the survey.
Last spring was the second time the survey was conducted.
The results were used to understand how human resources are utilized at the college.
Merriman said, "To me, the thing that I focused on looking at the results is where we need to do a better job of connecting the dots for our employees."
The survey is one way for employees to be able to express their concerns to administration. Faculty and administration have not always communicated well.
Dr. Phil Schmidt, Social Science, is the senior faculty member in years of service. Schmidt has been teaching here for 39 consecutive years. Schmidt said that it wasn't until 1988, when Carl Martin became president of the college,that the friction
between the employees diminished.
"The fact that we have been able to operate here in the more recent times under a much sunnier disposition of atmosphere is much happier," Schmidt said.
This is Donna Davis', financial aid administrative assistant, second year at the college. Davis feels that in her division everyone cooperates well as a team.
"Those that I have to work with, it's great. Very supportive," Davis said.
Dr. David Gardner, assistant professor of music, is in his fourth year at the college. His previous experience is as a graduate teaching professor at Arizona State University.
Gardner said, "The atmosphere here is such a caring atmosphere. In contrast to a lot of the schools I've seen around the country, I feel like the faculty and students work together and care about each other's success."
Last year, the college focused on engthening its performance evaluation and planning.
The goals for this year, Merriman said, are to have more occasions to talk with employees about how their plans fit with the college's and to increase communication about the direction of the college.
Gardner said, "I know that one of the things on the survey is that no everybody is seeing how their tasks fit in the goals of the college, but if everyone is doing what they are called to do, then the larger goals of the college will be met."
Overall, the survey showed that employees of the college are satisfied with their job.
Merriman said the survey is part of the school's accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.
The survey is adapted from The Baldridge Quality Initiative website. The school chose the survey because it is used by hundreds of companies in the nation, and they want to be able to compare results.
All full-time employees of the college were asked to complete the survey, but no one was required to take it. Two-thirds of the employees completed the survey.
Last spring was the second time the survey was conducted.
The results were used to understand how human resources are utilized at the college.
Merriman said, "To me, the thing that I focused on looking at the results is where we need to do a better job of connecting the dots for our employees."
The survey is one way for employees to be able to express their concerns to administration. Faculty and administration have not always communicated well.
Dr. Phil Schmidt, Social Science, is the senior faculty member in years of service. Schmidt has been teaching here for 39 consecutive years. Schmidt said that it wasn't until 1988, when Carl Martin became president of the college,that the friction
between the employees diminished.
"The fact that we have been able to operate here in the more recent times under a much sunnier disposition of atmosphere is much happier," Schmidt said.
This is Donna Davis', financial aid administrative assistant, second year at the college. Davis feels that in her division everyone cooperates well as a team.
"Those that I have to work with, it's great. Very supportive," Davis said.
Dr. David Gardner, assistant professor of music, is in his fourth year at the college. His previous experience is as a graduate teaching professor at Arizona State University.
Gardner said, "The atmosphere here is such a caring atmosphere. In contrast to a lot of the schools I've seen around the country, I feel like the faculty and students work together and care about each other's success."
Last year, the college focused on engthening its performance evaluation and planning.
The goals for this year, Merriman said, are to have more occasions to talk with employees about how their plans fit with the college's and to increase communication about the direction of the college.
Gardner said, "I know that one of the things on the survey is that no everybody is seeing how their tasks fit in the goals of the college, but if everyone is doing what they are called to do, then the larger goals of the college will be met."
Overall, the survey showed that employees of the college are satisfied with their job.
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