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Feb. 1, 2007 • Volume 15 Number 10

Employee, Student Surveys Show Overall Satisfaction with BC

By Jack Dunn
Director of Public Affairs

Two major surveys that probed the attitudes of Boston College's employees and students confirm that, overall, members of the BC community are very satisfied with their experience, despite some specific areas they believe call for improvement.

Preliminary results of the surveys, which were distributed to all (non-faculty) employees and undergraduate students in 2006, reveal that 81 percent of employee respondents feel "successful or very successful" at BC, and that 87 percent of student respondents view their overall BC experience as positive.

The surveys reflect the opinions of 1,131 employees, or 51 percent of those surveyed and 1,102 students, 23 percent of those surveyed.

Specifically, the Employee Survey gives the University high marks on family/personal-related topics with 87 percent of employees surveyed agreeing or strongly agreeing that "BC is a family-friendly place to work," and 80 percent agreeing that "BC supports my ability to balance my job and my personal life." More than 50 percent of employees, however, stated that additional kinds of childcare would increase their job satisfaction.

On work-related topics, 87 percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that they like working at BC because of its mission, vision and core values, 79 percent agree that "they feel like a valued member of the community," and 70 percent agree that they "feel free to speak up about issues that are important to them." However, while 70 percent of those surveyed said that there are "ample diversity programs and opportunities on campus," 33 percent responded that the University could do more "to make diversity a high priority."

The survey, which also allowed respondents to anonymously express their viewpoints, is seen by administrators as a helpful instrument in gauging employee sentiments and in defining areas of concern. Several respondents suggested that more should be done to break down barriers between professional and support staff, while others stated that the University needed to provide more support for employees of color. Employees also suggested that BC continue to improve the climate for gay, lesbian and bisexual employees with many respondents urging the University to change its policy of non-discrimination.

Overall, the survey indicated that white professional females were most likely to say that BC is welcoming and has a strong sense of community, while AHANA professional females were most likely to say that BC does not have a diverse staff.

Prominent themes among the responders included calls for enhanced communication, improved training and promotion, and more opportunities for advancement for all deserving members of the BC community.

"There were a number of favorable responses from the survey indicating in the overall that our employees have had a positive experience at Boston College," said Vice President for Human Resources Leo Sullivan. "However, there are areas where improvements are needed that are not insurmountable, and we will address them proactively."

Sullivan acknowledged that the Employee Survey was designed to provide specific recommendations for the University's Diversity Steering Committee to help in developing a strategic plan for the Office for Institutional Diversity under the leadership of Executive Director Richard Jefferson. The Office of Institutional Diversity and other University departments, he said, will now take a leadership role in formulating recommendations for improvements.

The Student Survey, which was conducted in 2006 to assess undergraduates' attitudes and opinions regarding their experience at Boston College, indicated that 87 percent of BC students responding view their experience positively, with 85 percent agreeing or strongly agreeing that students are valued at BC, 84 percent feeling that they "belong to the campus community" and 81 percent saying they would again enroll at BC if given the opportunity to make their college choice.

When considered with respect to race/ethnicity, 78 percent of AHANA student respondents evaluated their BC experience as good or excellent, with the number rising to 91 percent for white students. In addition, the survey noted, students' rating of their overall BC experience increased in relation to their family's income level.

From an academic standpoint, the survey results suggest that while 90 percent of students indicated having a relationship of at least "some" quality with faculty members, nearly 33 percent of respondents reported spending no time talking with faculty members outside of class. Similarly, while 72 percent spoke of having working relationships with campus administrators, 28 percent of respondents said they felt "little or no support" from members of the administration.

Among the issues cited by students as areas of concern were alcohol use, poor or distorted body image, particularly of female students, and lack of sensitivity for those from different income backgrounds.

With regard to diversity, the survey results demonstrated that while 59 percent of students agree that getting to know people from different backgrounds has been easy at Boston College, fewer African American students than non-African American students think that BC welcomes discussions or programs that promote multicultural understanding.

In terms of student engagement, the respondents stated that they spend the greatest amount of their time preparing for class. In addition, a total of 78 percent of students spend time participating in student clubs and organizations, 54 percent of students participate in volunteer activities, 48 percent participate in activities that enhance their spirituality, 46 percent attend lectures outside of class, 33 percent work for pay on campus and 30 percent participate in social justice projects.

While there were few substantive differences in the survey results based on race or gender, one notable difference was that 48 percent of black/African American students spend more than five hours per week working for pay on campus, while only 27 percent of non-black/African American students replied similarly.

BC students' opinions of the quality of academic advising declined as class years advanced, with seniors being less satisfied with the quality of academic advising overall than underclassmen.

On the issue of experiential learning, 86 percent of BC student respondents reported that they have done or plan to do a practicum, internship, field experience, or clinical assignment, while a total of 89 percent state that they have done or plan to do community service or volunteer work.

Across all categories, but particularly among AHANA students, BC students responded that additional opportunities for activities outside the classroom would increase the quality of student life at Boston College.

"This survey is helpful in enabling us to know from the voice of students what their sentiments and concerns are," said Vice President for Student Affairs Cheryl Presley. "It tells us that while students are satisfied with their BC experience, more needs to be done to meet their aspirations and to address their concerns, particularly among our low-income and AHANA students.

Added Executive Vice President Patrick Keating, who authorized the study, "I want to thank Kelli Armstrong and her team in Institutional Research for conducting these important surveys, and the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association for agreeing to expand the originally proposed Employee Survey to include a broader spectrum of questions.

"A hallmark of a great institution is its willingness to monitor perception. BC cares what its employees and students think and welcomes their constructive feedback. Our challenge is to continue our efforts to find avenues that improve the BC experience for all employees and students." •