During the Spring of 2002, the Office of Human Resources administered two paper surveys to Grinnell College employees. Goals of these surveys included:

• determine awareness and usage of the existing Office of Human Resources web site and of paper publications, including the faculty/staff directory, employee handbook and employee guide;
  
• evaluate the effectiveness of the performance review process;
  
• review employee understanding of human resource related policies;
  
• increase campus event and recognition awareness;
  
• prioritize training methods and topics offered through the Office of Human Resources.

Employee Survey: 400 surveys were distributed to non-student college employees, primarily through campus mail. A total of 126 completed surveys were received for a (+/-) 32% response rate.

• Of the 126 survey respondents, 5 represented the bargaining unit employee group, 65 represented the hourly employee group and 48 represented the salary employee group. (8 respondents did not respond to this area of the survey)
• Most respondents revealed that they learn new job skills best in a casual, small-group setting.
• 48% of respondents would like to see the Managing Multiple Projects training topic offered by the Office of Human Resources.
• 58% of respondents feel that off-campus events encourage a sense of campus community, although several comments were made that these events should include at least one activity that gathers participants together in a common setting (i.e. employee lunch, group travel)

Supervisor Survey: 63 surveys were distributed by campus mail to non-faculty supervisors and hiring managers of at least one non-student college employee (exception- some Burling Library supervisors who received these surveys are also faculty members). A total of 26 completed surveys were received for a (+/-) 41% response rate.

Supervisor Survey results revealed:

• Phone and email etiquette training opportunities were most requested by supervisors for their department staff.
• Delegating Tasks and Projects, Providing Feedback to Employees and Financial Planning were most requested by supervisors in meeting their own training needs.
• Supervisors find the performance review process to be of value and the performance review form provided by the Office of Human Resources to be a useful tool in this process.
• 73% of the respondents have requested assistance from the Office of Human Resources for recruiting staff.
• 77% of respondents have attended at least one Lunch and Learn, a program for supervisors featuring specific management topics.

For more information about surveys administered through the Office of College Services or by departments under the College Services division, please contact Vicki J. Wade, Services Coordinator, at 641-269-3044.