The University of Memphis is soliciting faculty and staff inputon a variety of campus issues through an anonymous feedbacksurvey.
"Nearly 1,200 faculty and staff responded to last year's survey,representing 47 percent," said Teresa Hartnett, division ofbusiness and finance planning and research director. "A particularobjective for this year's survey is to increase the responserate."
The 2nd annual Faculty and Staff Feedback survey was organizedby the Faculty Survey Feedback project team led by Hartnett andWalter G. Kirkpatrick, associate communication professor.
The survey, conducted over the Internet, requires participantsto log in with their U of M username. Survey organizers saidusernames are only required to ensure only faculty and staff takethe survey.
Responses are stored in an anonymous database that does notcontain names, so all responses are guaranteed to be confidentialand anonymous, Hartnett said.
However, some faculty members are skeptical of theadministration's promise to strip their names from their surveyresponses when storing the data.
"I have a lack of trust that Internet responses will be treatedanonymously," said a U of M professor who requested anonymity.
Other U of M faculty members said they believe the survey is avalid attempt to find the most important issues affecting facultyand staff.
"The survey generally has a lot to do with faculty contentmentand job satisfaction," said MaryBeth Mader, assistant philosophyprofessor. "I thought the section of the survey on The University'svision and mission was very important."
In addition to questions posed with a five-point response scale,the survey also offers a "comments and opinions" box, in whichparticipants can submit suggestions and express grievancesanonymously.
"Our university has strong leadership with Dr. Raines, and theother new senior administrators. This brings hope," one commentread.
However, more discontented faculty voiced concerns about theadministration.
"The mission of this university should be to serve students andfocus more on education rather than research," read anotheranonymous comment. "We forget who our customers are."
Survey items address a variety of issues, including the flow ofcommunication within and across The University, the degree to whichfaculty understands The University's mission and facultysatisfaction with leadership, Hartnett said.
The administration will use the results to better understandfaculty and staff attitudes, Hartnett said.
Despite the attempt to solicit faculty and staff input in thedecision making process, many faculty members remain skeptical.
"I have completed the survey and turned it in, for what it'sworth," one U of M professor posted in the survey's anonymouscomment section. "I've been at this university long enough to knowthat surveys, although well-intentioned, generally wind-up in thepresidents' or provosts' round file."
Faculty responses will be taken seriously, Hartnett said.
"Effective communications across The University and a satisfiedfaculty are key components to the overall effectiveness of TheUniversity of Memphis," Hartnett said. "U of M students willbenefit from the actions that emerge as an outcome of thissurvey."
