The Goal 5 Committee investigated the current environment for professional and unionized [1] staff and their accomplishments with respect to the University mission. In addition to reviewing documentary evidence, the Goal 5 Committee conducted and evaluated a staff opinion survey. A copy of this survey and summary results are included as in the Goal 5 Committee Report [6.2B7], and will be referred to hereafter as the Staff Survey.

This chapter draws on the Goal 5 Committee Report [6.2B7], the Human Resources Self-Study [2.6H8], and the Affirmative Programs Self-Study [2.6H3]. Please see these reports for more detailed information.

Patterns Of Evidence

Purposes

Staff create and maintain the support systems which must operate for the educational process to function. They contribute directly and indirectly to the other seven University Goals. In their daily work, staff are often the first contact for students who seek assistance in a variety of matters. They participate in the recruitment of quality students, faculty, and staff. They facilitate instruction, research, and advancement opportunities. They maintain the University's physical plant and safe environment.

Although Michigan Tech's mission and vision statements do not explicitly mention the role of staff at the University, the dedication of one of the eight strategic goals to staff in 1994 stressed that staff are critical to fulfilling the University mission. Staff were not mentioned in University planning documents before this time.

Objectives under Goal 5 emphasize the importance of compensation, professional development, evaluation, governance, diversity, and appropriate staffing levels. Two documents which clearly outline University policies for staff include the Policies and Procedures Manual [1.5E] and the Staff Handbook (in process). In addition, the Human Resources and Affirmative Programs Departments publish policies that govern processes and procedures for staff.

At the departmental level, however, goals for staff, including the ways in which staff are expected to contribute to departmental goals, are neither clearly articulated nor consistent across departments [2.6]. Administrative departments and academic support units, which consist predominantly of staff, are more likely to address the objectives that are related to staff than are academic departments, which have proportionately fewer staff.

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