The results are in for the latest ModernThink survey assessing employee perceptions of their jobs and of management at the district and college levels. In this second survey taken by the district, participation increased, but while some outcomes showed improvement many of the same areas showed there was still progress to be made.
Results for the college have been posted to the Intranet and written comments are available at the Learning Resource Center’s Reserve Desk in Building L. The All-College meeting on Feb. 27 gave the college community a chance to come together and discuss the results.
“What impressed me was the personal commitment so many of you have to this institution and its mission,” said Richard McCrary, newly named interim president, as he started the review of the ModernThink results. Instead of reviewing all the materials in the results, Richard focused on bringing forth points he found to be critical as areas for improvement and opened the floor for comment and discussion.
Many of the results pointed to increasing confidence in the district’s and the college’s leadership. Overall, employees reported seeing a positive change as a result of changes in leadership and ongoing initiatives. The one area that needs additional improvement across the district is a format to increase employee’s knowledge and understanding of the institution’s financial performance.
Professional Support Staff across the district as a category continued to express concern over compensation and training. Employee pay was the most obvious target, but is unlikely to take a boost with the economic news from Austin focusing on shrinking state budgets. The 2008 survey results did see an increase in the number of positive responses in this category. Following closely as a topic to be addressed was a need to create more meaningful employee rewards and recognition. The conversation at the meeting focused on finding smaller and everyday ways to show appreciation to employees.
The ModernThink presentation to the Board of Trustees emphasized the importance of relationships within the district. Survey results indicated that employees had a strong connection to their workgroup, but that collaboration and cooperation across workgroups needs to be fostered. There were a lot of comments at the meeting that offered ways for the college community to connect with one another across workgroups. While there have been some opportunities with the Fun Factor committee for employees to socialize, there was a sense that time during work hours and activities that happened at the college would more easily attract participants.
In other college business, Richard discussed the upcoming visit from a SACS team who will review materials for the new satellite nursing program at Mountain View College and dual credit offerings for Emergency Medical Services. The committee will arrive sometime in April to review the credentials of all faculty members who are involved in either program including those who teach the many support courses for the nursing program.
The college’s anniversary and service project committees have worked to arrange a program of volunteer opportunities within our service area as a way to celebrate the college’s 30th anniversary. In April, the 30 Days of Service program will begin with almost daily opportunities for employees to donate or volunteer at local agencies. Additional details on the program are in the Celebrating With Service article in this newsletter.
