Purdue News

October 24, 2002 Purdue audit seeks information on job satisfaction, diversity WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University administrators plan to survey staff at the West Lafayette campus in November to learn about their overall satisfaction with their employment. The staff work-life survey will poll administrative and professional staff as well as clerical and service staff on issues such as job stress, the balance of work and non-work activities, availability of on-the-job training, development opportunities and diversity. Goals of the survey are: • To enhance the quality of life and the work-life balance. • To assess staff support for, and commitment to, the leadership and strategic direction of the university. • To measure staff commitments and satisfaction with Purdue as a place of employment. • To improve the delivery of compensation, benefits and reward systems. "We're hoping all staff will participate so that we can gather reliable information on how well the university is doing in attracting and retaining staff," said John Beelke, director of human resource services. "The survey results will help us address our deficiencies and build on our strengths." Students and faculty will be surveyed on their perceptions of diversity and the learning environment at Purdue. Students also will be asked about their living environments. Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, Diversity Resource Office director, said each survey will be a useful assessment tool. "This diversity work-life and campus life survey responds to the strategic plan to enhance human and intellectual diversity," Simpson-Taylor said. "We want to be able to give people the opportunity to say, 'This is what it means to me' and plan for the future." Purdue-specific questions were contributed by a team of staff, students and faculty. To simplify the survey process, the questionnaire will be offered at a Web site. Students and staff without easy access to a computer can answer the survey at designated external computer sites. Printed surveys with preposted envelopes also will be available. Translators can be requested. All students, faculty and staff will be provided a personal identification number so their responses will be anonymous. The survey is expected to take approximately one-half hour to complete. Survey results will be reviewed and compiled by Mickey Dansby, an independent organizational consultant in Orlando, Fla. Focus groups, composed of students, faculty and staff, will be assembled in January to discuss trends and key issues identified. Results of the campus assessment will be distributed in the spring. Public forums also will be convened to discuss the results and to develop action strategies to make Purdue a top choice for employment, education and living. CONTACT: Beelke, (765) 494-7395, jbeelke@purdue.edu; Simpson-Taylor, (765) 494-7307, dmsimpson-taylor@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page