Issue date: 10/20/09 Section: News

Media Credit: www.nova.edu

In Oct. 2007, President Ray Ferraro, Jr., was interested in finding out how all of NSU's constituents felt about engagement. He desired to find out areas where the university was engaging students, faculty, and alumni and areas where the university lacked this.

Gallup, a company that has been conducting surveys for the government, public agencies, and other corporations offered a 360-degree assessment that would encompass the point-of-view of NSU employees, alumni, and students. President Ferraro signed a three-year agreement with the company in Oct. 2007, making NSU the first educational institution to complete this assessment. The first round of the Gallup surveys was conducted at that time.

"Bottomline, NSU is seeking to better understand itself and its constituents," said Barbara Packer-Muti, Ed. D., executive director of quality assessment, institutional and community engagement. "It is striving to make a name for itself outside of South Florida."

In Oct. 2008, another Gallup survey was conducted, and the results of both were compared. Areas of improvement were identified. The two main areas of concern were communication and collaboration.

In response to these results, a Communications Task Force was established that consisted of students, alumni, and staff. The task force's aim is to increase communication across the university and to identify "silent areas" of communication or where it is lacking. In addition to this, recommendations will be provided on how to improve communication and on how to develop events to increase communication. The task force's progress will be assessed every six months.

The second outcome that was implemented was conducting town hall meetings.

"Since May, the president has met with 54 different groups to conduct town hall meetings, from the library staff, to the Office of Information and Technology, to Public Safety." said Packer-Muti. "He is engaging in dialogue with the community and is finding that it is an initiative that is doing well."

However, it appears the communication initiative still needs work.

"What survey?" was a student's response when he was asked to comment on the upcoming Gallup survey. In fact, zero out of 10 students that were asked on campus did not know what the Gallup survey was or if they would participate in it.

The few that did know did not comment much on the issue. "I think it's a good thing, and I will participate." said Kristina James, junior in business management.

This year's survey will commence on Oct. 26 and will be available to the NSU community for two weeks. The survey is anonymous and confidential. It takes about five to 10 minutes to complete. Prizes will be awarded to participants and include 10 mini 10v Netbooks for students and 10 mini 10v Netbooks for alumni participants. Employee prizes include one HP black and white laser printer, one blackberry unit, one HP digital camera, one American Airlines domestic travel voucher for two and one HP WiFi Pocket PC. For more information about the Gallup survey, visit www.nova.edu/believe/index.html.

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