MGEU members at University College of the North (UCN) recently participated in an independent, third-party survey, and the results demonstrate that a significant percentage of employees feel communications, financial and management practices, student recruitment, and resources for employees must improve at UCN.
When asked if they felt an outside auditor should be brought in to do a review of UCN’s financial and management practices, 47% of UCN employees said yes, 22% said not yet/maybe, 22% said they didn’t know, and only 7% said no.
“The survey shows there’s a great deal of work that needs to be done at UCN to improve the environment created by management,” said Gawronsky. “I think it’s important that these issues are taken seriously, that management at UCN takes note of this survey and the message being sent by its employees, and takes the appropriate steps to change.”
Other findings revealed that…
- 50% of the respondents felt UCN did a “very poor” or “poor” job of communicating with employees about plans and changes at UCN – compared to 24% who thought UCN management did a “good” or “excellent” job;
- 52% felt UCN management did a “very poor” or “poor” job of responding to employee recommendations for improvements;
- 46% felt UCN senior management did a “very poor” or “poor” job of managing financial affairs – compared to only 19% who felt they did a “good” or “excellent” job;
- 44% of respondents felt senior management does a “very poor” or “poor” job of recruiting students – compared to 23% who felt they did a “good” or “excellent”; and
- 42.7 % of respondents felt things at UCN were “on the wrong track”, while an equal amount felt the institution was moving in the “right direction” (42.7%).
“The survey also showed a workforce who cares deeply about their jobs and the educational services they provide to students. The staff are trying their best to provide that despite some of the difficulties that exist,” said Gawronsky. “I think it’s time we had serious discussions about what the future holds for UCN and all its stakeholders – including industry, government, students, staff, and Northern and Aboriginal communities – need to be a part of that conversation.”
The survey was conducted between January 28 and February 4, 2014 and is considered accurate ±8.3%, nineteen times out of twenty.