What is the Climate Survey Task Force?
The Task Force is a 24-member group that was appointed and charged by the 18th president, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, May 2022. The group includes staff and faculty from each portfolio and school at RPI. Shortly after arriving at RPI in July of 2022, our 19th president, Dr. Martin A. Schmidt, reiterated the charge.
Why was the survey conducted?
The survey was conducted to help the university better understand our strengths and identify weaknesses and areas of opportunity to improve at RPI.
Can we see the raw data and comments?
Faculty and staff were assured their answers would remain anonymous. Therefore, we will not share the raw data or individual comments. Aggregate metrics and overall themes from the comments are available for everyone to see.
Who took the survey?
The survey was offered to faculty and staff July 1-31, 2021. A faculty, staff, and student survey will be offered every other year.
How many people responded to the survey?
1,085 responded to the anonymous survey.
What were the significant findings of the survey?
Faculty and staff deeply care about RPI and our students, and over 70% of the employees, including faculty, took the hour-long survey. Opportunities for improvement were identified in the following areas:
- Organizational culture and communications
- Policy reconciliation, change, and implementation
- Workforce development, support, and retention efforts
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and engagement
- Supporting students’ needs
- Enterprise risk management
What actions are being taken now that the results are in?
We are sincerely interested in your feedback and takes the results of this survey very seriously. We encourage you to review and provide feedback on the report and ideas to implement recommendations. Action items will be shared on this website after we have reviewed community comments and recommendations.
What are plans for future surveys?
RPI will conduct a climate survey for faculty, staff, and students every other year.
How will information from the comments be used?
The Task Force reviewed the survey data and used the survey information as the basis for identifying actionable recommendations to help carry RPI forward.
Are comments anonymous?
The survey, including the comments, was anonymous.
When will a final report be available?
After faculty, staff, and students have commented on the draft report, the Task Force will review feedback and may update the draft report with additional ideas that are submitted before releasing a final report. A final report is expected by early March.