Climate Assessment

In Spring of 2021, a climate assessment report was conducted by Ann Chapman, the Employment, Policy & Higher Education Consultant Climate Assessment from the Drummond Woodsum law firm. In the assessment, 32 faculty members, 16 staff, and 1 student (primarily identified through College Council membership and referrals from College Council members) were interviewed to provide feedback regarding the college’s climate. The assessment provides perceptions of the working climate at NHTI and suggests next steps going forward. Topics of the report include:

1. Issues to address, but there is good news, too
2. Rome was not built in a day, and the college did not get here in a day
3. Need for pandemic precautions exacerbates workplace issues, but did not cause them
4. The faculty is not a monolith
5. Communication, communication, communication
6. Shared governance: A microcosm

 Activities to address report:

1. Survey to collect recommendations for positive community growth sent on 4/23/21 with report.
2. Anonymous suggestion box on climate page.
3. Taskforce of faculty and staff determined to address issues 5/21.
4. Initial taskforce meetings 5/21 – 8/21. Ten-month faculty and staff who work on the taskforce will be compensated during the summer.
5. Initial recommendations presented at Fall All-Campus Meeting 8/21.
6. Taskforce will be ongoing for continuous climate improvement.

Community College Survey of Student Engagement

The CCSSE which measures the climate of our student engagement on campus was administered in Spring of 2021. Attached are the Executive Summary results. Strategies are being developed to address challenge areas.

The Climate Assessment Taskforce was charged to address three primary areas over the summer: Communications, Shared Governance and Collegiality and Professionalism. For a two-week period from August 18-September 1, the College community may comment on the recommendations from the three working groups.

Professionalism and Collegiality Recommendations

Handouts from All Campus Meeting

Once approved by the College President, the recommendations from the climate assessment taskforce will be hosted here.  

Great Colleges to Work for Survey

Biannually, the “Great Colleges to Work For” survey will be administered to all CCSNH colleges through Modern Think. It was be administered in February of 2022 and was last received in 2019. Survey results and comments located here.

The survey scores the following categories:

1. Job satisfaction/support
2. Teaching environment
3. Professional development
4. Compensation, benefits, and work/life balance
5. Facilities
6. Policies, resources, and efficiency
7. Shared governance
8. Pride
9. Supervisors/department chairs
10. College leadership
11. Faculty, administration, and staff relations
12. Communication
13. Collaboration
14. Fairness
15. Respect and admiration