SENATE RESEARCH OFFICERS COMMITTEE SURVEY

FOR STAFF ASSOCIATES AND SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATES

General Information

Title: Senior Staff Associate___, Staff Associate___.

Age group: Under 26___, 26-35___, 36-45___, 46-55___, 56-65___, Over 65___.

Gender: Male___, Female___.

Number of years employed at Columbia___.

Number of years in current position___.

Highest degree earned: BS/BA___, MS/MA___, PhD___, MD/DDS___, other_________.

Campus: Morningside___, Health Sciences___, Lamont___, Other___.

Department/Center/Institute________________________________.

1. How would you characterize your primary responsibilities?

Mostly research with little administration___,

More research than administration___,

Equal amounts of research and administration___,

More administration than research___,

Mostly administration with little research___.

Acknowledgment & Recognition

How important are the following issues to you?

2. Having an opportunity to participate in or contribute to the analysis of data.

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

3. Co-author status on manuscripts or abstracts to which you made significant contributions.

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

4. Acknowledgment in abstracts and publications to which you made less significant or minor contributions.

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

5. Periodic performance evaluation and feedback (written and/or verbal).

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

6. Attending national/international courses and conferences related to your research work.

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

Administrative Training

If you are responsible for staff supervision, please answer the next three questions. All others please skip to Question 10:

7. Have you received adequate training and support in appraising the performance of the staff you supervise?

Yes___, No ___, No opinion___.

8. Have you received adequate training and support in University or Medical Center administrative policies and procedures?

Yes ___, No ___, No opinion___.

9. Have you received adequate training and support in disciplinary issues?

Yes___, No ___, No opinion___.

Benefits

10. Has the university adequately informed you about the benefits of your position (i.e., educational benefits, vacations, etc.)?

Yes ___, No ___, No opinion___.

11. For Staff Associates only, how important would it be for you to be eligible for the retirement plan in the first two years?

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

12. Please rate your satisfaction level with Columbia dental plans.

Very satisfied___, Satisfied ___, Neutral___, Dissatisfied ___, Does not apply___.

13. Please rate your satisfaction level with Columbia medical plans.

Very satisfied___, Satisfied ___, Neutral___, Dissatisfied ___, Does not apply___.

14. Please tell us your current yearly salary (this is an optional question; all answers are confidential).

30,000-34,999___, 35,000-39,999___, 40,000-44,999___, 45,000-49,999___,

50,000-54,999___, 55,000-59,999___, 60,000-64,999___, 65,000-69,999___,

70,000-74,999___, 75,000-79,999___, 80,000 or more___, Other_______.

15. When was the last time you received a salary increase?

___Last July 1, ___years ago, ____Never.

16. How often do you normally receive salary increases?

Every ____ year(s), Never___.

17. How well are you able to support yourself and, if applicable, your family on your current salary?

Very well___, Well___, Adequately___, Poorly___, With extreme difficulty___.

18. For those who commute by car, how satisfied are you with available parking arrangements?

Very satisfied___, Satisfied ___, Neutral___, Dissatisfied ___, Does not apply___.

19. If you’re dissatisfied with parking arrangements, please say why:

Cost of parking___, Availability of parking___, Other reasons___.

20. Do you live in Columbia University housing?

Yes___, No___.

21. If you do not live in Columbia housing, how important would it be for you to have this benefit?

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

22. For parents, how satisfied are you with the child care services available to you?

Very satisfied___, Satisfied ___, Neutral___, Dissatisfied ___, Does not apply___.

23. For parents who do not use Columbia-supported childcare programs, would such a program be an important benefit for you?

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

24. For foreign nationals, how important would it be for you to have Columbia University sponsor your green card application?

Very important___, Important___, Neutral___, Unimportant___, Does not apply___.

Career Enhancement

25. As a Staff or Senior Staff Associate, have you taken non-degree courses at Columbia University?

Yes___, No___.

26. Do you plan to take non-degree courses at Columbia University?

Yes___, No___.

27. As a Staff or Senior Staff Associate, have you taken courses toward a degree at Columbia University?

Yes___, No___.

28. Do you plan to take courses toward a degree at Columbia University?

Yes___, No___.

29. If you hold the Ph.D. or the equivalent, would you be interested in a title change to Associate Research Scientist or another professional research officer title?

Yes___, No___.

Work Environment

30. When do you normally receive your appointment renewal letter (please give a number)?

___ month(s) in advance, ___week(s) in advance, ___ week(s) late, _____month(s) late, ___ not at all.

31. How important to you is timely notice that your appointment will be renewed?

Very important ___, Important ___, Neutral ___, Unimportant ___, Does not apply___.

32. How would you rate the working environment in your unit (department, institute, center) ?

Very positive___, Positive ___, Neutral ___, Negative ___, Very negative___.

33. How would you rate the overall working environment of Columbia University?

Very positive___, Positive ___, Neutral ___, Negative ___, Very negative___.

34. How do you rate your awareness of the job expectations for your position?

Well informed___, Informed___, Poorly informed___, Totally uninformed___.

35. How do you rate your awareness of the termination policy regarding your position?

Well informed___, Informed___, Poorly informed___, Totally uninformed___.

Please feel free to add any other comments or elaborate on any question above: