416: Listening to Lead: How Surveys Enhance Culture in Christian Higher Education

In this special edition, Best Christian Workplaces' Robert Wachter and Cary Humphries join us for an in-depth discussion on the unique challenges facing Christian higher education. Tune in to gain valuable insights into employee engagement trends, strategies for fostering a flourishing culture, and an introduction to the new Adjunct Professor Engagement Survey designed to strengthen institutional health.

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In this episode:

Sector Health and Engagement in Higher Education

• Best Christian Workplaces’ aggregated data reveals that the higher education sector scores lowest in organizational health, with a 3.82 score on a 5-point scale—falling into the "unhealthy" category. (03:18)
• Higher education also shows the lowest employee engagement rate at 44%, well below the overall 58% average across all sectors. (03:56)

Comparative Engagement and Sector-Specific Challenges

• Globally, only 30% of employees are engaged, making Christian higher ed’s 44% somewhat higher, though still troubling compared to other ministry sectors. (04:51)
• Cary Humphries highlights unique tensions in higher education, such as:
  • Faculty vs. Administration Tensions: Faculty’s sense of ownership over mission and decisions can clash with administrative decisions, especially around governance and resource allocation. (06:23)
  • Societal Issues: Universities face pressures from societal debates on topics like human sexuality, adding further complexity. (07:37)

Influence of Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation and benefits weigh more heavily in engagement for higher education compared to other sectors, though still less so in Christian higher ed than secular institutions. (10:17)

Key Culture Drivers for Improvement

• Three primary engagement drivers were noted:
  • Inspirational Leadership (weighted heavily at 17.5%) – Includes aspects like trust, Christian character, and fairness. (12:19)
  • Life-Giving Work (weighted at 15.6%) – Many employees are motivated by mission, reflected in high engagement scores related to meaningful work. (14:48)
  • Healthy Communication (weighting just under 15%) – This area, particularly around decision-making transparency and staff involvement, scored lower in higher ed, indicating a need for improvement. (14:53)

Importance of Employee Surveys and Engagement

• Emphasizes how institution-specific employee surveys provide critical micro-level data for enhancing workplace culture. (18:30)
• Engagement involves creating a workplace where employees can bring their full potential, which is impactful for leaders, students, and peers alike. (19:23)

Impact of Workplace Culture on University Success

• Healthy workplace culture is likened to fertile soil that helps universities flourish, boosting enrollment, donor engagement, and Kingdom impact. (20:25)
• Unhealthy culture can hinder an organization’s mission and limit its potential. (20:39)

Launch of the Adjunct Professor Survey

• Developed to meet the unique needs of adjunct faculty, recognizing that standard surveys do not address adjunct-specific challenges. (22:13)
• Created in partnership with a university and adjunct faculty input, the survey includes tailored questions to reflect adjuncts' unique roles and experiences. (23:24)

Value of the Adjunct Professor Survey for University Leaders

• Adjuncts represent the brand and mission of universities, especially for online programs where students may interact only with adjuncts. (26:08)
• The survey provides actionable insights that help institutions better engage adjuncts, which strengthens their connection to the mission and positively impacts student experience. (27:47)

Significance of Long-Term Data and Partnerships

• BCW’s survey approach focuses on operational engagement rather than just marketing; it’s about long-term improvement, not merely earning a “best workplace” badge. (29:38)
• As more data is gathered over time, BCW will be able to provide benchmarking data to help universities see how their culture compares to similar institutions. (31:40)

Certification as a Best Christian Workplace

• Certification goes beyond a promotional tool; it is a validation of a healthy culture, producing lasting impact and aligning with Kingdom values. (32:11)
• BCW’s certification is employee-driven, celebrating true cultural health, making it more than just a “badge” but a testament to an organization’s flourishing environment. (32:38)

Resources and Next Steps

• Listeners are encouraged to download the “State of the Christian Workplace Report” and explore demo options for both the Employee Engagement and Adjunct Professor Surveys on BCW’s website, workplaces.org (33:08)

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