Dear Tanya,

I am in receipt of your request that the university conduct a Staff Engagement Survey. Your resolution calls for the university to conduct a survey of staff, under the direction of the Office for Institutional Research and Planning (IRP). You suggest that the results of this survey should be used by the university to pinpoint areas of concern and you call for the leadership to use this data to “facilitate the opportunity to offer a campus-wide discussion, and, ultimately, creation and implementation of solutions”.

In general I am supportive of this resolution. I believe that the Office of Institutional Research and Planning is the right organization to lead this effort. I do want to stress that, in order for them to be able to execute this survey in a timely manner and in way they feel is appropriate given the other surveys they have led, I would defer to them about the best way to involve the Employee Assembly, the Division of Human Resources and others on campus. I have confidence that they will involve the Employee Assembly as appropriate.

I will also ask IRP to guide the university in terms of sharing the information garnered through the survey. I do expect that the EA, HR and others will receive survey results in a manner that facilitates the goal of understanding, and addressing, issues that emerge through the survey. I will, however, ask that IRP determine the best way to do this while ensuring the confidentiality of participants.

By copy of this response, I am asking Marin Clarkberg to begin the planning for a staff engagement survey.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the staff of Cornell.

Warm regards,

David Skorton