Update: Staff morale survey
March 18, 2019
— by Kara Axx, Staff Council past president
Last May you might remember completing a morale survey sent out to all staff by UAF
Staff Council. There was nearly a 50 percent response rate to the survey. We were
excited to see such a great turnout, but what was even better was the large amount
of feedback in the form of comments left to each of the questions. This, quite honestly,
is why this response has taken so much time to put together. The Morale Committee
was made up of 10 Staff Council representatives who reviewed all of the survey data.
We felt a responsibility to make sure that we captured the essence of what we read
and to present that to the leadership team of UAF.
A presentation was created on the Staff Council website. The results were presented to the Chancellor’s Cabinet,
and the Morale Committee has either conducted or scheduled one-on-one meetings with
each member of the leadership team at UAF. The results have also been presented to Staff Council and can be viewed here.
Chancellor White has scheduled a morale forum for Tuesday, March 19, from 1-2 p.m.
in the Wood Center ballroom to discuss some of the plans he and the leadership team
have to continue to improve morale at UAF.
While this might not be the best timing to come out with this communication given
the current announcements from the governor’s office, we feel it is important to follow
up with you to let you know that the results of the survey are being taken seriously
and there has been a lot going on behind the scenes. With the upcoming challenges
that UAF will soon be facing, it is important that we keep moving forward with this
momentum. No matter what happens, we all need to work toward treating each other with
kindness and respect. Every one of us is responsible for improving morale, especially
during these uncertain times. Take the time to check in with your co-workers. Be an
active staff member by watching or listening to the speeches of the leadership team.
Read the communications being published by the UAF leadership. Participate in the
public comment sessions of the UA Board of Regents. Watch the BoR meetings online.
Participate in governance. Each one of us plays an important part in the future of
UAF, and we all need to make the time to have our voices heard.
This past year’s staff morale survey has provided a starting point to gauge future
morale shifts, and to help UAF leadership implement small, no-budget ways to recognize
and show value and appreciation to their staff. Later this spring, we will send out
another iteration of the morale survey to see if the dial has turned one way or another
since last year. One of the most important ways you can affect morale change at UAF
is to participate in the survey. Your voice is important, and it is valued.