The survey, spearheaded by Professor Melissa Graboyes, has concluded. Dr. Graboyes shares the data and main conclusions in her Executive Summary and Survey Results (including comments).
The main takeaways (cribbed directly from https://www.coronaviruschronicles.com/uo-survey) are:
1. There are wide differences in opinion between undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty about whether it is wise to return to in-person instruction in Fall Term, their level of concern about the health risks, and their levels of trust in the University administration to act in their best interest and the best interest of the university community. Overall, undergraduates are more enthusiastic about an in-person Fall Term and less concerned about health risks; faculty, staff, and graduate students were more hesitant about on-campus instruction and expressed more concern about personal and community-level risks.
2. There are wide differences in the levels of trust people have in the University administration to act in their best interest, or the best interest of the wider Eugene/Springfield area when making decisions about Fall Term plans. Undergraduates have the highest levels of trust. That differs significantly from employees: only 32% of responding faculty and staff stated they trusted the administration to make decisions in their best interest. Over 80% of each group reported they would have greater confidence about the safety of resuming in-person classes and work if their demographic group was included in the decision-making process.
3. There was general agreement between responding faculty and students that overall outcomes with remote learning and teaching in Spring Term were disappointing, despite the extraordinary efforts put into it. Faculty judged their efforts with remote teaching slightly more successful than students did. Over 75% of the 900 students participating in the survey reported their spring classes were more difficult to complete, and that they learned less compared to an in-person class.
4. Employees from across the university, of all types and rank, have concerns about job security, reduced FTE, and changing work expectations. More than 70% of the 1000 surveyed employees agreed that they are concerned about job loss or FTE reduction. Few employees feel secure in their job given the current climate on campus.
Please take a look at both the Executive Summary and complete Survey Results. Many thanks to Professor Graboyes and all who were involved in the creation and distribution of the survey. Your UA leadership will use this information as we negotiate with the UO administration about what to do for Fall Term; we are grateful to have more data informing our decision-making process, and, as always, we welcome further input from all of you. Contact us with your questions or further feedback at [email protected].