University Times

A survey of full-time staff at Pitt’s Bradford campus has pinpointed some common issues, sparked some improvements and spurred some initiatives.

The on-line, anonymous survey garnered 92 responses out of a staff of 120, said UPB Staff Association President Bridgett M. Passauer. All non-union, full-time staff at Pitt-Bradford automatically are members of the Staff Association.

“It is always important to gather concrete information and have real discussion and not just leave the issues to be talked about in the hallways. And I think people are reluctant to speak up unless they’re assured that their opinions will be kept anonymous,” Passauer said. “We are currently using this survey information for professional and personal enrichment planning, for issues to bring to President [Livingston] Alexander’s attention and for planning in general.”

A yoga class and a recent presentation on gardening by a facilities staff member are examples of new programs that resulted from the survey.

Passauer said the key issues emerging from the survey included being able to use the education benefits at non-Pitt institutions, and initiating on-campus master’s and doctoral programs, such as business administration, education, information technology and human relations management.

“Traveling to Pittsburgh for master’s level courses is not feasible for Pitt-Bradford staff members,” because it is a three-hour-plus drive, Passauer said. She added that President Alexander has agreed to evaluate the potential for starting such programs. “Whether it’s done through more distance education opportunities or with flexible tuition benefits at institutions that are nearby or by establishing programs on our campus, this is something the staff have expressed interest in.”

According to the survey, other key issues include improving inter-department communication, re-instating discounted meal rates for employees in the campus dining room and ensuring that salary increases keep pace with the cost of living.

“The percentage of salary increase is not equal to or above” the inflation rate, Passauer said. “People are actually making less money now then they did a few years ago.”

She noted that this is a University-wide staff issue. “I was happy to see that this issue was raised at the [May 19] Council of Campuses meeting. As part of the University-wide staff, we need to have this addressed at that level and not at a campus by campus level,” she said.

(See May 25 University Times.)

Other survey results showed:

• The largest group of Pitt-Bradford staff who completed the survey is between 36 and 45 years of age (34.8 percent), followed by 46-55 (27.2 percent) and 26-35 (22.8 percent).

• Half (50 percent) of the respondents had been employed at UPB for five or fewer years, followed by 6-15 years (31.5 percent).

• Education benefits were the most cited reason that staff gave for staying at Pitt-Bradford (46.7 percent), followed by location (39.1 percent) and medical benefits and the retirement plan (30.4 percent each). Respondents could list more than one reason.

• More than half (53.3 percent) of staff had used their education benefit either for themselves, their spouses or dependents.

• A total of more than two-thirds (68.5 percent) have attended staff development workshops.

• More than half (53.3 percent) said they were satisfied with their current position, with an additional 30.4 percent saying they were very satisfied.

• About four in five staff (81.5 percent) said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the University’s benefits as compared with other employers.

• Staff who travel fewer than 10 miles to get to work were the highest percentage (63 percent) followed by those who travel 21-30 miles (13 percent).

• Suggested improvements to the campus environment that were most cited (respondents could list as many as they chose) included: better salary (66.3 percent), discounted meals (55.4 percent), improved inter-department communication (55.4 percent) and additional personal development opportunities (37 percent).

The process for gathering data for the UPB staff survey had three stages, Passauer said. An initial 14-question survey gathered demographic information on the staff members as well as their opinions on education benefits, personal and professional development workshops and job satisfaction. In addition, it solicited suggestions for improvements to the campus. The survey also asked for “other issues” that need addressing campus-wide.

The staff welfare committee, the standing committee of the UPB Staff Association that oversaw the survey, then sent a follow-up survey asking for more specific information on education benefits and desired workshops. To improve the response data, the staff welfare committee sent the follow-up survey out a second time to those who had not responded.

—Peter Hart