The AAUP 2004 State of the University Survey was completed by 127 faculty across all divisions. This represents 33.96% of all full- and part-time faculty and 49.10% of tenured faculty. This response rate is the lowest experienced in the six years we have administered the survey. It was the first time the survey has been electronically administered and it was the first time so many other requests for faculty to respond to survey instruments occurred virtually simultaneously. Either or both events potentially impacted the response rate.* Significantly more males than females and significantly more tenured than non-tenured faculty completed the survey. Thank you to all who took the time to participate (in a period in which we were highly inundated with survey requests).

Independent analysis of all items appears below, first across the campus and then by degree granting divisions, but a brief summary of the results may aid understanding of the multiple tables that follow. In short, the state of the University, at least as measured by the items on the survey, is not as positive as we might like it to be. All percentages given, unless stated otherwise, reflect those who agreed with the issue to at least some extent.

Of the 16 procedure, policy, or outcome assessment issues to which faculty responded only FIVE received support from more than 50% of the participants. These included agreement that: the LSP has fulfilled our goals and expectations (51.97%); the administration is trustworthy, meaningful, and transparent in its actions (53.50%); the Study Abroad program operates effectively (54.10%); physical facility resources are adequate (58.27%); and campus technology adequately meets our needs (66.93%), the last issue being the only one agreed on by more than 59% of the faculty.

Even though the figures for the above five issues are positive, the implicit implication of these results is that a very large minority of the faculty (roughly 42% to 48%) responding to four of the measures listed above did NOT explicitly agree with these policies, procedures, or outcomes. In addition, NINE items showed less than 47% of the faculty responding to the survey agreed with the current procedures, policies, or outcomes identified. Only 46.46% agreed Truman carefully and reflectively considers programs and policies, and barely 40% (40.16) thought the current divisional structure best serves our mission. More disturbing, four of the eight items in this category received agreement from roughly only a third of the faculty responding. The proposed use of part-time faculty was not supported (34.15%), nor did faculty feel they receive adequate time and support for scholarship (32.54%). The lowest numbers regarding policies, procedures, or outcomes (other than assessment items, which will be discussed separately) reflected faculty's position on two highly important issues, morale (30.71%) and salary equity (23.81%).

For many years Truman has invested tremendous amounts of money and human resources in our assessment program. This year the "State of the University" survey assessed our assessment program with three items. The first item was positively framed (as were all but two items on the survey) and measured agreement that Truman's assessment program informs our understanding and practice regarding teaching, advisement, and student learning. Sadly, only 36.51% of faculty participants agreed these outcomes occurred. The two assessment items not positively framed strongly suggested: 1) changes were needed to enhance the validity of the measures assessed (64.57% agreed), and 2) we needed to reevaluate and remove ineffectual measures (80.95% agreed–the highest agreement with any item on the survey). Put another way, only 35.43% of participants were satisfied with the validity of the measures we collect and only a slim 19.05% of faculty consider our assessment program to be useful as it presently exists. Collectively these three items speak loudly for changes in assessment as we currently undertake it at Truman.

The remaining two items are noteworthy, but for different reasons. One assessed faculty's opinion on the Faculty Senate restructure, a process put in place only three months before the survey was administered last Fall. Almost 48% of the participants agreed it provides a more effective voice for faculty. Notably, only 18.25% disagreed. Those who were ambivalent on this topic (34.13%) represented the largest group of its kind on any of the survey items, perhaps suggesting a need to further observe the new process before making a decision about its efficacy.

From the above summary, it is fairly clear that morale is quite low, the faculty responding feel they are underpaid and overworked, and there are many aspects of the University work and teaching environment with which they are dissatisfied. Nevertheless, when asked about their commitment to Truman, 80.16% agreed it was very strong. Some of the open-ended comments help to expand on and clarify this finding.

The data were also statistically analyzed by division using separate one-way Analyses of Variance. Unfortunately, because of low numbers of faculty responding in those divisions, Education, Military Science, Business and Accountancy, and the Library could not be included in the statistical analyses.

On four items there were significant differences between two or more divisions (the value of our assessment program, the promotion of a reflective culture, physical facility resources, and the divisional structure); one more item showed a marginal difference (view of the administration). More significantly, for the large majority of the issues no differences appeared between the divisions; that is, they mostly agreed on the target issues.

Also included in the package are the open-ended comments for 2004 and a table offering a 6-year comparison across the items assessed commonly and separately during those testing times.

It is the hope of your Truman chapter of the American Association of University Professors that you will find the information contained herein to be informative and useful. Thanks once again to all faculty who participated in this endeavor.

1. The administration operates in a trustworthy and meaningful manner that promotes transparency in its policies and procedures.*

2. The Liberal Studies Program has done an excellent job of fulfilling the goals and expectations associated with its implementation.*

3. Truman's assessment program contributes productively to our understanding of student learning and student practices, and it substantively informs teaching, advisement, and administrative practices and policies.*

4. Truman State University has successfully promoted a reflective culture in which current and future plans result from careful consideration of the impact and effectiveness of past programs and policies.*

5. Physical facility resources (e.g., space, supplies, etc.) are adequate for my teaching and scholarly needs.*

* M=5.4 sd=2.6; 58.27% agreed with the statement to some extent

6. The current divisional structure best meets the needs of students and faculty and facilitates the mission of the University.*

* M=4.8 sd=2.7; 40.16% agreed with the statement to some extent

7. Technology on campus is adequate for my teaching, service, and scholarship needs.*

* M=6.0 sd=2.4; 66.93% agreed with the statement to some extent

8. Adequate time, support, and resources are available for my scholarship needs and requirements.*

* M=3.9 sd=2.6; 32.54% agreed with the statement to some extent

9. Salaries and benefits at Truman are commensurate with comparable institutions and reflective of the teaching, service, and scholarship loads undertaken by faculty.*

* M=3.6 sd=2.3; 23.81% agreed with the statement to some extent

10. The University's newly proposed use of part-time and non-regular faculty positions is appropriate.*

* M=4.4 sd=2.7; 34.15% agreed with the statement to some extent

11. Morale among faculty at Truman is currently very high.*

* M=4.2 sd=2.5; 30.71% agreed with the statement to some extent

12. My personal commitment to Truman and to the programs undertaken here is very strong.*

* M=6.9 sd=2.3; 80.16% agreed with the statement to some extent

13. The newly restructured Faculty Senate provides a more effective and distinct voice for faculty.*

14. To enhance the validity of our assessment measures, a University-wide incentive policy should be instituted that effectively motivates students to participate fully and appropriately in the assessment program.*

15. To enhance the utility of our assessment program, current assessment instruments should be reevaluated and if necessary, discontinued or replaced by more useful, informative measures.*

* M=7.3 sd=1.7; 80.95% agreed with the statement to some extent

16. The Study Abroad office effectively mentors our students' international experiences by facilitating information exchange, travel arrangements, coordination with host institutions, transfer of course credit, etc.*

* M=5.3 sd=2.5; 54.10% agreed with the statement to some extent

* p <.043 for both items

1. The administration operates in a trustworthy and meaningful manner that promotes transparency in its policies and procedures.^

2. The Liberal Studies Program has done an excellent job of fulfilling the goals and expectations associaed with its implementation.^

3. Truman's assessment program contributes productively to our understanding of student learning and student practices, and it substantively informs teaching, advisement, and administrative practices and policies.^

4. Truman State University has successfully promoted a reflective culture in which current and future plans result from careful consideration of the impact and effectiveness of past programs and policies.^

5. Physical facility resources (e.g., space, supplies, etc.) are adequate for my teaching and scholarly needs.^

6. The current divisional structure best meets the needs of students and faculty and facilitates the mission of the University.^

7. Technology on campus is adequate for my teaching, service, & scholarship needs.^

8. Adequate time, support, and resources are available for my scholarship needs and requirements.^

9. Salaries and benefits at Truman are commensurate with comparable institutions and reflective of the teaching, service, and scholarship loads undertaken by faculty.^

10. The University's newly proposed use of part-time and non-regular faculty positions is appropriate.^

11. Morale among faculty at Truman is currently very high.^

12. My personal commitment to Truman and to the programs undertaken here is very strong.^

13. The newly restructured Faculty Senate provides a more effective and distinct voice for faculty.^

14. To enhance the validity of our assessment measures, a University-wide incentive policy should be instituted that effectively motivates students to participate fully and appropriately in the assessment program.^

15. To enhance the utility of our assessment program, current assessment instruments should be reevaluated and if necessary, discontinued or replaced by more useful, informative measures.^

16. The Study Abroad office effectively mentors our students' international experiences by facilitating information exchange, travel arrangements, coordination with host institutions, transfer of course credit, etc^

*n=37: 29.13% of faculty taking the survey offered written comments.

* The State of the University Survey was administered in Spring from 1998-2002. However, the survey was not done in Spring 2003, so it was next completed in Fall 2004. "N/A" indicates the issue was not asked that year.