Classified Staff Survey Findings
- Demographics
- Salary
- Benefits
- Work Loads
- Supervision
- Resources
- Leadership of the Institution
- Workplace
- Institutional Integrity
- Comments
Five hundred and thirty-five classified staff responded to the Classified Staff Survey, corresponding to a 53% response rate. Of those responding, 70% are female and 26% are male. Four percent did not indicate gender.
Seventy-six percent reported being union, 19% reported being union-exempt, and 5% did not indicate a union status.
Appointments are:
- 29% - Classified Professional
- 39% - Secretarial/Clerical
- 10%- Technical/Para-professional
- 4% - Skilled Craft
- 7% - Service/Maintenance
- 10% - Don't know
- .2% - Grade 5
- 1% - Grade 6
- 7% - Grade 7
- 10% - Grade 8
- 15% - Grade 9
- 16% - Grade 10
- 9% - Grade 11
- 9% - Grade 12
- 8% - Grade 13
- 6% - Grade 14
- 5% - Grade 15
- 1% - Grade 16
- 2% - Grade 17
- 11% - No Response
Salary is clearly the most important concern of classified staff. Ninety-one percent of classified staff responding either "disagree" or "strongly disagree" that the funding of the State Pay Plan is at an acceptable level. Ninety-five percent of classified "disagree" or "strongly disagree" that the State Pay Plan provides acceptable annual increases. Eighty-eight percent either "disagree" or "strongly disagree" that their salary is adequate for the work that they do.
Only 28% of classified staff responding indicated that their salary is adequate compared to other employees at MSU-Bozeman who perform similar work; 53% feel their salary is not adequate in comparison.
Forty percent of classified staff responding are satisfied with the level of health insurance coverage; 58% are dissatisfied. Only 30% of classified staff are satisfied with their out-of-pocket costs for health insurance; two-thirds are dissatisfied. One-third are satisfied with the current Employee Wellness program, although 53% find it dissatisfactory.
Nearly 50% are "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with our Flexible Spending Plan that covers medical expenses; over 30% either do not know or do not feel the statement applies to them. Nearly three-quarters of classified staff, when asked if our Flexible Spending Plan that covers child care expenses is satisfactory, either don't know or do not feel the statement applies. Fifteen percent find it satisfactory.
Ninety-one percent of classified staff responding are either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the amount of sick leave they receive. Nearly 50% feel the amount of vacation leave they receive compared to faculty is satisfactory, although 26% do not feel it was satisfactory.
Seventy-six percent of classified staff are satisfied with their basic life insurance coverage. Only 15% were not satisfied. Only one-third feel their retirement package is adequate for their future needs; 51% feel it is inadequate.
Fifty-four percent of classified staff feel tuition waivers are satisfactory; 22% feel they are unsatisfactory. Nearly one-half either "agree" or "strongly agree" that the professional development opportunities are adequate to help them stay current in their jobs; 42% do not agree with this statement.
Forty-four percent of classified staff responding either "agree" or "strongly agree" that their work load is consistent with other employees at our university who have similar jobs; 32% do not agree with this statement. Sixty-one percent agree that they have the time to complete their work in a quality way, although 38% either do not know or do not feel this statement applies.
When asked if the implementation of Banner 2000 has positively affected their ability to do their job, nearly 70% do not know or do not feel this statement applies to them. Twenty-one percent either "disagree" or "strongly disagree" with this statement. Less than 4% agree.
Classified staff in general were very positive about the quality of supervision they receive. Every statement made received from 71% to 94% "agree" or "strongly agree" selections. Statements included clear job expectations, opportunities to discuss job-related concerns, flexibility to respond to personal and family emergencies during work hours, opportunities to take on added responsibility, being treated with respect, opportunities to be creative, opportunities to learn needed skills, accurate judgement of performance, guidance to perform effectively, recognition of contributions made, and fair evaluation of work performance.
Two-thirds of classified staff responding either "agree" or "strongly agree" that their department/office provides sufficient resources to perform their job; 31% do not agree with this statement. Nearly 40% agree that their department/office provides sufficient travel resources to meet job expectations, 23% do not agree with this statement.
Seventy-two percent of classified staff either "agree" or "strongly agree" that they have sufficient equipment to satisfactorily perform their jobs; 27% do not. Fifty-eight percent agree that they have sufficient support staff to satisfactorily perform their jobs; 35% do not agree.
Eighty-three percent of classified staff responding agree that they have adequate access to a computer so they can remain informed about campus issues and activities; 84% agree that they have adequate e-mail access, and 74% agree that they have adequate access to computer-knowledgeable people for the technical assistance they need.
Approximately three-fifths of classified staff responding agree that software/hardware troubleshooting and required repair work is provided in a timely fashion; however, one-quarter do not agree with these statements.
Nearly 50% of classified staff responding either "agree" or "strongly agree" that they are given opportunities to serve on campus committees; one-third do not agree. Only 28% are satisfied with classified staff representation on key committees, 47% are not satisfied. Twenty-two percent agree that the assignment of classified staff to committees is equitable; 44% feel it is not equitable. Forty-six percent are satisfied with classified staff representation on search committees for positions which affect them; 26% are not satisfied.
Only 22% of classified staff responding feel that CEPAC adequately represents their interests. Thirty-two percent do not agree.
Four-fifths of classified staff responding do not agree that central administration considers the views of classified staff when making decisions. Seventy-two percent do not feel they are given sufficient opportunity for input into the planning of the university budget.
Forty-three percent of classified staff either "disagree" or "strongly disagree" that the restructuring of the Montana University system has benefitted our campus. Forty-five percent either do not know or do not feel this statement applies. There was no clear response to the statement that the reputation of MSU-Bozeman remains unchanged even though there are other campuses in the state with similar names.
Seventy-three percent of classified staff responding either "agree" or "strongly agree" that the physical environment of their work place is adequate for the job they need to do; 27% do not agree with this statement. Nearly two-thirds agree that their individual work place is adequately cleaned; one-third do not agree. Nearly three-quarters agree that the furnishings/equipment in their work place are adequately maintained; one-quarter do not agree.
Twenty-seven percent of classified staff responding agree that institutional regulations are consistently applied at all levels; 47% disagree. Thirty-five percent agree that the university communicates relevant information to all of its constituents; nearly one-half do not agree.
Forty percent of classified staff either "agree" or "strongly agree" that the university has adequate procedures for dealing with disciplinary issues involving students; however, 45% either do not know or do not feel this statement applies.
Nearly two-thirds of classified staff agree that the administration supports ethnic and gender diversity on this campus. Nearly 50% agree that the university has adequate procedures for dealing with sexual harassment and discrimination, although 43% either do not know or do not feel these statements apply.
Classified staff were asked their level of satisfaction with their job at MSU-Bozeman. Sixty-seven percent reported they were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with their jobs.
Three additional questions were asked under this section. Responses represent the reasons most frequently given.
The first question was, "As a classified staff member, what do you like most about MSU-Bozeman?" The top three reasons are: PEOPLE (this was the overwhelming number one response - fellow employees, friendly people, camaraderie, variety), BENEFITS (tuition fee waivers, vacation and sick leave, use of facilities, Wellness Program, flexibile hours), and LOCATION (surroundings, geography, views, beautiful campus).
The second question was, "As a classified staff member, what do you like least about MSU-Bozeman?" The top three reasons are: SALARY (this was the overwhelming number one response - low pay, market ratio pay plan, inadequate raises, salary inequities, low pay/high work load, earning power), ADMINISTRATION (respect/support, communication, leadership, attitude), and PARKING (inadequate facilities, pay to park, high fees, place to park).
The last question was open-ended to allow respondents to comment on any issue not included in the survey. The top responses were a reiteration of the three reasons given in the second question.