Utica University's F. Eugene Romano Hall

Faculty and Staff Climate Survey Task Force

Climate Survey Overview

In Fall 2025, faculty and staff participated in a comprehensive climate survey to better understand their experiences at the institution. Following the survey, a voluntary, representative task force of faculty and staff was formed and charged with reviewing the data, identifying key themes, and developing actionable recommendations for Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees. In addition to analyzing survey results, the task force is incorporating feedback gathered through subsequent open forums to ensure that the findings reflect both quantitative data and lived experiences across campus.

Intended Outcomes of the Faculty & Staff Climate Survey Task Force

Comprehensive Analysis of Climate Data
Synthesize survey results and open forum feedback to identify strengths, areas of concern, and emerging themes across faculty and staff experiences.
Actionable, Evidence-Based Recommendations
Develop clear, practical recommendations for Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees grounded in survey findings and community input.
Increased Transparency and Communication
Provide a summary of findings and next steps to the campus community to promote trust, clarity, and shared understanding.
Prioritized Areas for Institutional Improvement
Identify and propose short-term and long-term focus areas that align with institutional values, strategic goals, and employee well-being.
Framework for Ongoing Assessment and Accountability
Identify and propose mechanisms for tracking progress, revisiting climate data, and ensuring continued attention to faculty and staff experiences over time.

Task Force Members in Alphabetical Order

Michelle Boucher, Professor of Chemistry
Sherri Cash, Professor of History & Liberal Studies
Marissa Hall, Executive Director of Student Living
Jing-Mao Ho, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Data Science
Meredith Lopata, Director of Annual and Athletic Giving
Kira Maddox, Director of Community, Belonging & Title VI
Kelly Minerva, Associate Professor of English
Gwendolyn Murphy, Assistant Athletic Trainer
Rose Patterson, Director of Instructional Design & Technology
Deborah Pollack, Associate Professor of Psychology
Alicia Reed, Director of Victim Advocacy & Viol. Prevent.
David Rufo, Associate Professor of Childhood Education
Kathleen Savino, Director of Tutoring Services
Kaylee Seddio, Associate Professor of Psychology
Camille Sorbello, Accounting Manager
Colleen Sunderlin, Professor of Occupational Therapy
Cicily Talerico, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Shanna Van Slyke, Professor of Criminal Justice
Kyle Wilson, Title IX Coordinator

Project Timeline

Date:	Activity/Task:
October 31, 2025	Climate Survey Closed
November 7, 2025	Dr. Damiano Requested Voluntary Task Force Membership from Faculty and Staff (Update #1)
November 14, 2025	Dr. Damiano Provided Climate Survey Update #2 to Campus Community
November 21, 2025	First Task Force Organizational Meeting Held
December 2025 - February 2026	Task Force Analyzed Survey Data
December 18, 2025	Task Force Provided Update #3 to Campus Community
January 19, 2026	Dr. Nesbitt Committed to Addressing Survey Results in “100-Day Action Plan”
February 2, 2026	Task Force Provided Update #4 to Campus Community
February 7, 2026	Initial Preliminary Presentation to Board of Trustees
February 27, 2026	Task Force Provided Update #5 to Campus Community
March 2026	Task Force Writing Report for Campus Community
March 27, 2026	Task Force to Release Report to Campus Community as Update #6
March 30 - April 10, 2026	Task Force Holding Open Community Conversations (dates and times TBA)
April 24, 2026	Task Force to Provide Update #8 to Campus Community

Task Force Report

A report summarizing the findings of the Fall 2025 Faculty and Staff Climate Survey, along with recommendations developed by the faculty and staff taskforce, is published here to share key insights, themes, and proposed next steps with the campus community.

(Note: Utica login is required for viewing these documents.)

Survey Report

Quantitative Analysis Dashboard

Open Community Conversations

The Task Force will host open community conversations to gather additional feedback and perspectives from faculty and staff.

Monday, March 30 | 9:00 A.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Thursday, April 2 | 11:00 A.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Friday, April 3 | 1:00 P.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Tuesday, April 7 | 3:00 P.M. | Virtual on Zoom

Communications

Dear Campus Community,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force has completed its in-depth analysis of the October 2025 survey results. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and for your gracious patience as we completed this project. Our final report is attached to this email, and we are working with the Office of Marketing and Communications to get a digital version on the University website.

We understand that the work does not end here, and that much time has passed since the University first solicited your feedback. We will be hosting open community conversations over the next two weeks for anyone who would like to discuss the findings, ask questions about the Task Force and our process, or share additional feelings and perspectives regarding the campus climate. Sessions will last approximately one hour each. We would love to see you there and look forward to continuing the dialogue as we work together to improve campus morale.

Open Community Conversation Schedule:

Monday, March 30 | 9:00 A.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Thursday, April 2 | 11:00 A.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Friday, April 3 | 1:00 P.M. | Hislop Auditorium, Thurston Hall
Tuesday, April 7 | 3:00 P.M. | Virtual on Zoom

If you cannot make an open session, we deeply encourage you to reach out to any member of the Task Force. We are all happy to answer questions and take feedback.

We thank you again and look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you!

Faculty and Staff Climate Survey Task Force Update

February 27, 2026

Dear Campus Community,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force would first like to thank you for your patience as we conduct the important work of analyzing the results of the fall climate survey.

While attempting to meet our previously communicated timeline, we realized we were inadvertently truncating the information for the sake of the deadline and prioritizing offering an easily digestible report. After careful consideration, and looking at the deep analysis already conducted behind the scenes, we did not think something as important and sensitive as morale should be rushed.

We need more time to ensure our findings and report are robust and thoughtful, with adequate transparency surrounding the outcomes, responses, and pain points for the institutional community. However, we can share the top themes reportedly impacting morale overall:

Lack of communication
Financial instability and its effects with regard to salaries and the availability of resources
Perceptions of a lack of respect
Employees feeling unsupported, devalued, and excluded
Issues stemming from poor leadership and mismanagement
Feelings that the campus community is divided and disconnected

The full report will give more disaggregated insight into these themes, along with specific concerns impacting specific populations.

Along with a full report, we have committed ourselves to providing intentional engagement opportunities for staff and faculty. After the report is released, we will be staging open Q&A-style presentations throughout March to showcase our process and findings, and to take additional comments and concerns. The survey was conducted in October 2025, so we want to ensure we have all perspectives and changes in mind as we liaise with senior leadership moving forward.

We again thank you for your patience, understanding, and grace. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any members of the Task Force.

Sincerely,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force

Faculty and Staff Climate Survey Task Force Update

February 2, 2026

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force has continued to meet to analyze the survey results. Not only are we looking at overall outcomes, but we’re also working to identify trends, themes, and potential next steps to help ensure the data is used thoughtfully. We understand how crucial this feedback is and want to honor your time and candor by approaching this work with care, transparency, and intention.

We mentioned in our last communication that the Task Force split into four subgroups to tackle the analysis. We are currently in the process of standardizing our findings and summaries, and we intend to release a preliminary report the week of February 15, 2026.

As we continue this work, we remain deeply appreciative of the faculty and staff who took the time to share their experiences. Your perspectives are essential in helping us understand where Utica University is succeeding and where focused attention is needed.

We will continue to provide updates as our analysis progresses. Please feel free to reach out to any of the Task Force members with questions.

Sincerely,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force

Faculty and Staff Climate Survey Task Force Update

December 18, 2025

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Thank you for taking the time to complete the Faculty and Staff Climate Survey. We deeply appreciate your engagement and honesty. The response rate was strong (66%, with about 250 responses), which speaks to the community's commitment to improving Utica University.

This message comes from the Climate Survey Assessment Task Force, a group made up of faculty and staff volunteers who will conduct an independent data analysis of the results and collaborate with University leadership on an action plan. From our cursory review, it is clear that there are significant concerns about the current campus climate. One of many consistent insights is the need for accurate, timely, and transparent communication.

In an effort to act now, we will lead by example, providing clear, regular updates as we conduct our work. Please keep an eye out for monthly direct email updates from us regarding our progress, findings, and opportunities for collaboration and feedback.

The team will reconvene in January 2026 to share subgroup reports on key trends and themes, and we will release a summary of our findings to the broader campus community. Please note that any identifying information will be redacted, and the data will be shared in a composite format.

If you have questions, ideas, or ongoing concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to any member of the Task Force. Your input will continue to guide this work.

Thank you again for your honesty and commitment to making Utica University a better place for all.

Sincerely,

The Climate Survey Assessment Task Force

Dr. Damiano Provided Update #2 to Campus Community

November 14, 2025

Dear Colleagues:

The climate survey for faculty and staff closed on October 31, 2025. My sincere thanks to each of you who took the time to complete the survey and share your feedback and ideas.

I am in the final stages of compiling a preliminary report. A group of faculty and staff are meeting in a week to begin reviewing the data and the responses to the open-ended questions. Members of this group will share their expertise and interpret the findings as well as identify strategies to address concerns about the current climate based on the survey findings.

Likewise, members of the University's leadership will engage in a similar review.

The report will be shared with the Board of Trustees, as per their request at the September Board meeting.

I expect we will be prepared to share a full report with the full campus community soon after the start of the spring semester.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions about this survey and how we will be using it to (hopefully) improve the climate at our institution.

Best wishes,

Ann

Dr. Damiano Requested Voluntary Task Force Membership from Faculty and Staff

November 7, 2025

Dear Colleagues:

My thanks to those of you who completed the recently administered faculty-staff climate survey. The survey closed last Friday, and I am currently preparing a report for the Trustees, administration, faculty, and professional staff.

The survey results clearly suggest that improving the climate at Utica University is a shared responsibility, not one solely belonging to administration. To that end, I am assembling a group of faculty and staff who will collaborate together on reviewing the survey results, interpreting what they mean, and considering possible action steps to address the concerns raised in the survey.

We need professional staff who are data focused and able to work with faculty colleagues on this project.

If you are interested in volunteering for this work, please contact me by Wednesday, November 12 via email: aedamian@utica.edu.

I am grateful for all that you do and welcome your efforts to move the University forward.

Kind regards,

Ann