How We See Ourselves:
Faculty, Staff and Student Views of MSU

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Summary
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One year after initiating our strategic planning effort, FutureSTATE 2015, we wanted to survey our campus constituencies to get a sense of the climate of the university and to take a closer look at how we see ourselves.

Our Social Science Research Center took on the task of conducting the survey and preparing a report on the results which are presented here.

First, a few details about the survey. Data were collected via web surveys between March 3 and April 5. We surveyed everyone at the university for whom we had a good email address: 1,267 faculty, 3,256 staff, and 14,689 students. Some emails were non-deliverable, and some people started the survey but never finished it. But SSRC received completed responses from 737 faculty, 1,478 staff members, and 4,059 students. We promised confidentiality in conducting the survey, and the responses cannot be linked to any individual.

Thanks to each of you who took the time to share your views. Your opinions do count, and we expect to mine the results of this survey for guidance and good ideas that will help make MSU a stronger university. We plan to repeat the survey each year.

To review the responses to all survey questions, click on 'View Survey Results' to see a short slide show.

As you will see, we have a lot to be proud of—and there are things we need to work on. It's clear that our faculty, staff and students are proud to be associated with this university, think well of their colleagues, and enjoy working and learning here. It's equally clear that a substantial number of faculty and staff don't believe they are compensated adequately, and some have concerns about how raises and promotions are handled. And it seems we need to do a better job of recognizing and rewarding good ideas and innovation. My personal favorite finding so far—90 percent of our students know the name of their academic advisor.

Thank you for running with the Bulldog Pack.

Doc Foglesong
President
April 2007