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UNC System Office
Employee Engagement Survey

Results

UNC EES Results

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To date, the UNC System and its constituent institutions have participated in the UNC System Employee Engagement Survey three times – February 2018, February 2020 and March 2022. The survey has asked employees for their thoughts about topics relating to communications, collaboration, supervision and benefits, among other items.

Data from previous surveys was shared with the UNC Board of Governors and supported efforts to pursue key longer-term policy and programmatic changes, such as the introduction of paid parental leave and enhancements to University benefit programs. We also adjusted campus communications and several administrative processes as a result of feedback garnered from these surveys.

About Data Collection

Only ModernThink has access to individual employee responses so that results cannot be connected back to individuals. The University receives a variety of summary reports. Reporting is available only if there are at least five responses in a defined demographic group.

Below is the guidance sheet provided by ModernThink, the third-party survey administrator. It applies to all surveys and their results.

 

2024 Survey & Results

Between March 25 and April 8, 2024, all permanent, full-time employees at UNC-Chapel Hill were invited to participate in the UNC System Office Employee Engagement Survey. The survey was distributed by email on March 25, followed by several reminder emails. The University publicized the survey through campus publications, emails from campus leaders, social media, and through employee organizations. To maximize accessibility, the Office of Human Resources worked with units to make sure first, second, and third shift employees could access the survey and were provided technical support when needed for those who wished to take the survey online, and provided paper copies translated into Burmese, Karen and Spanish.

The 2024 survey was a shortened version of the full survey administered in 2018 and 2020 but slightly longer than the “pulse” survey conducted in 2022. The survey included 41 belief statements, 2 open-ended questions for write-in responses, and demographic questions, such as years of service, salary range, gender and race, for reporting purposes.

Among eligible employees at UNC-Chapel Hill, 3,774 opted to participate (27%).

  • SAAO Tier 2 and SHRA Exempt had the highest response rates, at 36% and 32%, respectively.
  • Of the remaining EHRA-NF employees, EHRA IRIT employees had a 31% response rate, and SAAO Tier 1 employees had a 29% response rate.
  • SHRA exempt employees achieved a 32% response rate, while 25% of SHRA non-exempt employees participated.
  • Faculty had the lowest response rate among UNC-CH employees at 23%.
  • Overall benchmark ScoreCard for 2024 (pdf): 41 belief statements by core dimension, with UNC-Chapel Hill positive and negative responses, compared to our 2022, 2020 and 2018 responses and 5 benchmark groups selected by the UNC System Office. These benchmarks include universities that participated in the Great Colleges program from the following groups: Carnegie Research I institutions, public four-year universities, universities with an enrollment greater than 10,000, and Southeast Region universities. The final comparison is to the UNC System-wide aggregate score.
  • 2024 Response Distribution Report (pdf): RResponses by employee type for each of the 41 belief statements.

2022 Survey & Results

Between March 28 and April 18, 2022, all permanent, full-time employees at UNC-Chapel Hill were invited to participate in the UNC System Office Employee Engagement Survey. The survey was distributed by email on March 28, followed by 3 reminder emails. The University publicized the survey through campus publications, emails from campus leaders, social media, and through employee organizations. To maximize accessibility, the Office of Human Resources worked with units to make sure first, second, and third shift employees could access the survey and were provided technical support when needed for those who wished to take the survey online, and provided paper copies translated into Burmese, Karen and Spanish.

The 2022 survey was comprised of 30 belief statements, roughly half the length of previous surveys, that focused on a set of baseline trend data, diversity and inclusion, and institutional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing that the pandemic created obstacles for campuses to address 2020 survey results as planned, the UNC System Office focused on specific topics for the 2022 survey, while still capturing a snapshot of particular engagement areas to build out trend data for analysis.

Among eligible employees at UNC-Chapel Hill, 4,292 opted to participate (33%).

  • SAAO Tier 1 and SAAO Tier 2 employees had the highest response rates, at 48% and 47%, respectively, and the remaining EHRA-NF employees had a 36% response rate.
  • Faculty had the lowest response rate among UNC-CH employees at 31%.
  • SHRA exempt employees achieved a 41% response rate, while 30% of SHRA non-exempt employees participated.
  • Overall benchmark ScoreCard for 2022 (pdf): 30 belief statements by core dimension, with UNC-Chapel Hill positive and negative responses, compared to our 2018 and 2020 responses and 5 benchmark groups selected by the UNC System Office. These benchmarks include universities that participated in the Great Colleges program from the following groups: Carnegie Research I institutions, public four-year universities, universities with an enrollment greater than 10,000, and Southeast Region universities. The final comparison is to the UNC System-wide aggregate score.
  • 2022 Response Distribution Report (pdf): Responses by employee type for each of the 30 belief statements.

2020 Survey & Results

Between Feb. 4 and Feb. 25, 2020, all permanent, full-time employees at UNC-Chapel Hill were invited to participate in the UNC System Office Employee Engagement Survey. The survey was distributed by email on Feb. 4, followed by five reminder emails. The University publicized the survey through campus publications, emails from campus leaders, social media, and through employee organizations. To maximize accessibility, the Office of Human Resources held labs for first, second, and third shift employees that provided technical support for those who wished to take the survey online, and paper copies translated into Burmese, Karen and Spanish.

The survey comprised of 61 belief statements that focused on employee engagement, two open ended questions addressing job satisfaction, and 17 questions dedicated to benefits satisfaction. The 61 belief statements were aligned with, and categorized into,15 core dimensions. The 2020 survey was identical to the 2018 survey except one question about diversity and inclusion was added to the 2020 survey that was not included in 2018.

Among eligible employees at UNC-Chapel Hill, 5,025 opted to participate (38%). 

  • SAAO Tier 1 and SAAO Tier 2 employees had the highest response rates, at 61% and 52%, respectively, and the remaining EHRA-NF employees had a 39% response rate.
  • Faculty had the lowest response rate among UNC-CH employees, at 31%.
  • SHRA exempt employees achieved a 45% response rate, while 39% of SHRA non-exempt employees participated.
  • Overall benchmark ScoreCard for 2020 (pdf): 61 belief statements by core dimension, with UNC-Chapel Hill positive and negative responses, compared to our 2018 responses and six benchmark groups selected by the UNC System Office. These benchmarks include ModernThink’s Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll, as well as universities that participated in the Great Colleges program from the following groups: Carnegie Research I institutions, public four-year universities, universities with an enrollment greater than 10,000, and Southeast Region universities. The final comparison is to the UNC System-wide aggregate score.
  • 2020 Response Distribution Report (pdf): Responses by employee type for each of the 61 belief statements.
  • 2020 Benefit Satisfaction Report (pdf): Responses by employee type for each of the 17 benefits questions.

2018 Survey & Results

Between Jan. 29 and Feb. 27, 2018, all permanent, full-time employees at UNC-Chapel Hill were invited to participate in the UNC System Office Employee Engagement Survey.

The survey comprised of 60 belief statements that focused on employee engagement, two open ended questions addressing job satisfaction, and 17 questions dedicated to benefits satisfaction. The 60 belief statements were aligned with, and categorized into, 15 core dimensions.

Among eligible employees at UNC-Chapel Hill, 4,744 opted to participate (37%).

  • SAAO Tier 1 and SAAO Tier 2 employees had the highest response rates, at 52% and 55%, respectively.
  • Faculty had the lowest response rate among UNC-CH employees, at 31%.
  • SHRA exempt employees achieved a 51% response rate, while 37% of SHRA non-exempt employees participated.
  • Overall Benchmark ScoreCard for 2018 (pdf): 60 belief statements by core dimension, with UNC-Chapel Hill positive and negative responses, compared to six benchmark groups selected by the UNC System Office. These benchmarks include ModernThink’s Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll, as well as universities that participated in the Great Colleges program from the following groups: Carnegie Research I institutions, public four-year universities, universities with an enrollment greater than 10,000, and Southeast Region universities. The final comparison is to the UNC System-wide aggregate score.
  • 2018 Response Distribution Report (pdf): Responses by employee type for each of the 60 belief statements.
  • 2018 Benefit Satisfaction Report (pdf): Responses by employee type for each of the 17 benefits questions.