Engaging employees

How can Dalhousie become a better university? It can’t happen without you.

The university is currently looking to hear from students about ways to improve, through the National Survey of Student Engagement—or NSSE for short—and the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium—otherwise known as CUSC.

And now with the 2011 Workplace Survey, Dalhousie wants to hear from the people who work at the university.

Keep the dialogue going



“We want to keep the conversation going with employees,” says Katherine Sheehan, assistant vice-president (human resources). Ms. Sheehan, along with Ken Burt, vice-president (finance and administration), has been meeting with Dal employees on the pension issue at a number of town hall sessions. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, 10 a.m. in the Potter Auditorium of the Rowe Building.

“Tell us how the university is doing and what has or has not improved since the last survey. We want to hear the good and the bad.”

Corporate Research Associates (CRA) will be conducting the confidential, online survey and will contact employees directly through email. Dal employees can look for their invitation to participate during the first week of April.

Paper copies of the survey will be provided to those areas with employees who do not have computer access.

“Dalhousie is committed to continuing to improve the university as a great place to work, but we need you to help us get there,” adds Ms. Sheehan.

In 2009, just over half of Dal employees completed the survey. This time around, the university would like even more people to participate.


Busy implementing changes

Since the results of the 2009 survey have come in, units throughout Dalhousie has been busy implementing changes.


Here are a few examples:

• In an effort to improve communication and increase accessibility, Information Technology Services (ITS) is working to redevelop the MyDal portal along with the creation of unit-specific Intranets and a new email system.
  
  “The MyDal portal allows for targeted messaging to specific employee groups, providing information that is current and pertinent,” says Dwight Fischer, Assistant Vice-President, ITS. “The university is also looking at options for more modern communication and collaboration tools to replace its aging email infrastructure.”
  
  
• Human Resources introduced a compensation and benefits statement on Dal Online that provides each employee with a detailed breakdown of his/her benefits and salary. Job evaluation focus groups were held throughout the campus and education sessions are planned for leaders. In addition, an Organizational Health Coordinator position was created to focus on health/wellness initiatives. A number of units across campus helped launch our first “Respect Campaign” this year to increase our appreciation for the impact respectful workplaces have on our work and learning environment.
  
  
• Following up on the 2009 survey, Research Services held focus groups and is working on addressing some of the challenges identified. "The areas of greatest concern mentioned from researchers were graduate funding and coordinating space needs with research funding and time lines,” says Martha Crago, Vice President, Research. “I have been working with Facilities Management to develop new ways for tracking and better articulating researchers needs with space realities. We will be presenting our ideas to the Deans and are already working in an organized and regular fashion on certain big research space projects."
  
  
• A series of professional development opportunities for academic leaders were offered throughout the year and will continue throughout the spring and early summer on a variety of topics including tenure and promotion, financial management, labour relations, strategic planning and career development reviews. In addition, a website for leaders, both academic and administrative, is currently in development.
  

These are only a few examples of what’s happening on Dal’s campuses. Ideas and initiatives are always welcome and not just through the employee survey.

Get in touch and stay up to date via the Human Resources blog.