Recently, we completed our 2021 Employee Engagement Survey and I am pleased to share the overall results with our college community. The results from the survey reflect positively for Niagara College and showed high levels of participation and engagement among staff and faculty and highlighted what we are doing well as a college as well as areas for growth and improvement.
As we all know, the past year has been a unique and challenging time in our college’s history. From adapting our services, classes, and labs to online delivery methods to implementing new safety protocols at our campuses, we recognize that you, our faculty and staff have stepped up to provide the best care, service and support for Niagara College students.
It is often through the most challenging times that organizations like Niagara College come together and the results from our recent Employee Engagement Survey reflect the ways in which we have done just that.
The results from the Employee Engagement Survey include:
- Overall engagement: Niagara College received 83% on overall engagement, which is on par with our 2019 survey, and places us in the top 10% of other surveyed academic institutions in Canada;
- Living our values: responses indicate that Niagara College has a strong values-based culture, with values that are clear and understandable, and that a strong majority of employees (82%) believe we are living our values on a daily basis;
- Focus on students: not surprisingly, our student focus continues to be a source of pride and a driver of our engagement. Nearly 90% of employees feel that student focus is a strength for Niagara College and that students and student success is a key priority for NC.
- Diversity and Inclusion: measured for the first time in Niagara College’s history, D&I is viewed positively by 85% of NC employees. While most employees feel that Niagara College is doing a good job of creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment, we recognize that there is more work that needs to be done in this area and we are committed to working to ensure NC is a welcoming place for everyone;
- Communications: This year’s survey showed a marked increase in communications at the departmental and college-wide levels, reflecting the success of communications initiatives identified in the action plans developed and implemented following the 2019 survey.
The survey also identified areas for growth, including opportunities to learn and grow professionally and strengthened work relationships at the school and departmental levels.
A video outlining the results of our Employee Engagement Survey is available for you to view at your convenience. You will receive the link to the video via email. I strongly encourage all staff and faculty to review the results of the survey when it is convenient and to direct any questions you may have to your manager.
The results from the Employee Engagement Survey demonstrate our collective desire to provide the best services and supports to our students while continuing to build on lessons learned. We are committed to continuous improvement and we will use the results from the Employee Engagement Survey to develop departmental action plans across the college that will help to shape future improvements at NC. As we did for the last survey in 2019, managers will be working with their teams to share results at the division, department and school level. Next steps regarding the action planning process at the college and departmental levels will be shared in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Employee Engagement Survey. These surveys are an important tool to help us drive continuous improvement at the college, and, we recognize the enormous value of the feedback and insight that your feedback provides.
