2015 Personal Assessment of the College Environment (PACE)

Measuring Climate at Tulsa Community College

The PACE Model

2

Leadership

Institutional Structure

Supervisory Relationships

Teamwork

Student Focus

Outcome

Student Success

Driver

Four Organizational SystemsCoercive Competitive Consultative Collaborative

Leaders have little confidence or trust in employees; seldom

involve them in decision-making

Leaders have condescending confidence

and trust in employees;occasionally involve them

in decision-making

Leaders have substantialbut not complete

confidence and trust; and significantly involve

employees in decision-making

Leaders have demonstrated confidence and trust in employees;

employees are involved in appropriate decision-

making

Decisions are top-down.Some decision-making at lower levels, but top is in

control.

More decisions made at lower levels, and leaders

consult followers.

Decision-making is widelydispersed and well

integrated across all levels.

Lower levels oppose goalsestablished by leadership.

Lower levels cooperate in accomplishing selected

goals.

Lower levels deal more with morale and exercise cooperation toward goal

accomplishment

Collaboration is employed throughout.

Influence primarily through fear and

punishment.

Some influence through rewards and some through

fear and punishment.

Influence mainly through rewards. Occasional

punishment and some collaboration occur.

Influence through participation and

involvement in process.

3

TCC

TCC SampleAdministered online to 2,307 employees, 747 (32.4%) completed survey

4

Respondents by Personnel Classification

5

PACE Response Rates (2008 vs. 2012 vs. 2015)

6

Would You Recommend TCC as a Place to Work?

7

Climate Factor Means

8

*Does not include TCC’s custom items.

^Number of custom items different from 2012-2015.

Collaborative

Consultative

Competitive

Coercive

*Overall does not include custom questions. ^ Number and type of custom questions not consistent across year.

Climate Factor Means

9

Collaborative

Consultative

Competitive

Coercive

*T-test results indicate a significant difference between the 2015 mean and the Norm Base mean (p < .05).

Customized Items

Overall M=3.61, SD=0.73

Coercive (n=0)

Competitive (n=2)

Consultative (n=11)

Collaborative (n=4)

*Actual items with item means on next slide.

10

11

2015 Customized Questions Mean (SD) ModelThe extent to which TCC offers a safe work environment for me 4.22 (0.85)

CollaborativeThe extent to which I am satisfied with working at TCC 4.18 (0.92)The extent to which TCC is effective in its community partnerships and outreach 4.10 (0.78)

The extent to which the College’s academic programs adequately prepare students for employment and university transfer

4.04 (0.80)

The extent to which the institution ensures quality instruction and academic support for its students

3.95 (0.88)

Consultative

The extent to which the institution’s facilities are safe, modern, and conducive to learning 3.89 (1.00)

The extent to which the College markets and communicates its programs and services 3.87 (0.98)The extent to which TCC’s technology is sufficient to support its operations and programs 3.73 (1.05)

The extent to which TCC’s policies, processes, and services help remove barriers to student success

3.72 (1.00)

The extent to which there is a positive relationship between faculty and/or staff with administration

3.49 (1.12)

The extent to which TCC’s website is accessible and user-friendly 3.43 (1.23)The extent to which faculty and/or staff are involved in development of new policies and procedures

3.35 (1.08)

The extent to which the institution has a performance-based culture dedicated to continuous improvement

3.32 (1.18)

The extent to which TCC is transparent regarding its budgeting and finances 3.25 (1.14)

The extent to which TCC compensates its employees 3.05 (1.24)The extent to which I am satisfied with TCC’s performance appraisal process 2.96 (1.31)

CompetitiveThe extent to which the institution addresses low-performing employees or detrimental workplace situations

2.70 (1.21)

Overall 3.61 (0.73)

Climate Factor Meansby Personnel Classification

12

Climate Factor Change from 2012 to 2015by Personnel Classification

13

Comments

14

424 (56.8%) respondents provided written comments in 2015625 (50.7%) respondents provided written comments in 2012

Top 10 Items (Means) [Custom = C]

The extent to which…

1. I feel my job is relevant to this institution’s mission

(4.52)

2. My supervisor expresses confidence in my work (4.30)

3. TCC offers a safe work environment for me (4.22) [C]

4. My supervisor is open to the ideas, opinions, and beliefs

of everyone (4.20)

5. This institution prepares students for further learning

(4.19)

15

Top 10 Items (Means) [Custom = C]

The extent to which…

6. I am satisfied with working at TCC (4.18) [C]

7. Students receive an excellent education at this

institution (4.17)

8. Student ethnic and cultural diversity are important at

this institution (4.14)

9. TCC is effective in its community (4.10) [C]

10. I am given the opportunity to be creative in my work

(4.10)

16

Most Favorable Comments (Samples)

Institutional Structure (n=212)

• “Communication and top-level administrative transparency is very good overall.”

• “My experience is that TCC is student focused and is a collaborative and supportive environment for employees.”

• “TCC is well-known in the community and so its employees are typically well-respected. There are those at TCC who see the need for change and who continue to try to address positive change.”

Supervisory Relationship (n=60)

• “My supervisor is supportive and appreciates my work.”

• “Most favorable is autonomy in my position and the confidence the institution seems to have in me.”

17

Most Favorable Comments (Samples)

Teamwork (n=53)

• “I feel that everyone I work with, that I have had direct contact with, has been extremely helpful and professional. I feel welcome and at ease to ask for clarification concerning questions I may have.”

Student Focus (n=83)

• “Faculty and staff truly care about our students and work together to effectively meet their needs—even working within processes and procedures that often confuse or create barriers for students.”

Other (n=64)

• Topics include adjunct faculty, compensation and benefits, facilities, and technology

• “I have never worked for a college that supports its adjuncts so well.”

18

Bottom 10 Items (Means) [Custom = C]

The extent to which…

1. The institution addresses low-performing employees or

detrimental workplace situations* (2.70) [C]

2. I am satisfied with TCC’s performance appraisal process (2.96) [C]

3. TCC compensates its employees (3.05) [C]

4. The extent to which I have opportunity for advancement within

this institution (3.09)

5. I am able to appropriately influence the direction of this

institution (3.14)

*T-test indicate a significant decrease from 2012 to 2015 (p<.05).

19

Bottom 10 Items (Means) [Custom = C]

The extent to which…

6. TCC is transparent regarding its budgeting and finances (3.25) [C]

7. This institution is appropriately organized (3.26)

8. Information is shared within the institution (3.31)

9. The institution has a performance-based culture dedicated to continuous

improvement (3.32) [C]

10. Faculty and/or staff are involved in development of new policies and

procedures (3.35) [C]

20

Least Favorable Comments (Samples)

Institutional Structure (n=279)

• “Accessibility for students, faculty and staff with disabilities is least favorable. It’s still an afterthought.”

• “Most decisions are made from the top down by those who do not deal directly with students. Then those who are required to implement policies have little or no input.”

• “Least favorable is the lack of data informed/driven decision-making.”

• “Cooperation between campuses needs to improve.”

Supervisory Relationship (n=62)

• “I am so tired of the evaluation process. It does not provide constructive feedback on how I can improve or what I am doing well at.”

• “I really do not receive any feedback regarding my performance from my supervisors. I do receive the student survey results, but it would be nice to know how my administrator feels about my work.”

21

Least Favorable Comments (Samples)

Teamwork (n=17)

• “I think that part-time staff are treated as an afterthought when it comes to getting information out to us and asking for input on office hours.”

Student Focus (n=81)

• “I don’t think so people within the organization adhere to the goals of the college. We are here to serve the students. This should be our primary mission as TCC employees.”

• “We need more mentoring on campus to help students that are struggling in their classes.”

Other (n=189)

• Topics include adjunct faculty, compensation and benefits, facilities, and technology

• “Many school processes are still pen and ink functions in a digital age.”

22

Conclusions

• Ratings from 2015 were significantly NOT higher than those from 2012

• Thus, TCC employees appear to view the institution about the same as they have in the past.

• However, within each personnel classification, there was a non-significant decrease within each climate category.

• Primary area of strength

• Based on both ratings and comments, Student Focus is perceived by employees as TCC’s primary strength, which is consistent with the two-year college norm base.

• Primary area of weakness

• Based on both ratings and comments, Institutional Structure is TCC’s primary weakness. This too is consistent with the two-year college norm base.

23

Conclusions (cont.)

• A brief look at the open-ended responses

• While there were more negative than positive comments, this follows typical survey response patterns.

• Many of the positive and negative comments are parallel, meaning what one person sees as favorable, another sees as unfavorable.

• Many of the tangible negative comments are already being actively addressed by task forces and committees and/or are listed as strategies to be addressed by the new strategic plan.

• Closing the loop – Now what?

24

“I have been an employee at TCC for the past 22 years. I have enjoyed my job immensely and consider myself a huge advocate for TCC. The education that students receive here is superior. TCC offers not only an excellent education for students but a sense of community that parallels any of the state universities in Oklahoma. I am proud to be employed at this superior institution of higher education.”

25

26