Office of Human Resources reports faculty/staff survey results

University Park, Pa. -- Diversity is an integral aspect of the Penn State work environment, according to the 2008 Faculty/Staff survey.
 
Survey results show that faculty and staff regard the University’s climate for diversity as one of the most positive dimensions of the work environment, second only to professional development and work/life balance.
 
In fact, 77 percent of the survey respondents agree that “the workplace climate in my department/unit is welcoming for employees from underrepresented groups.” Likewise, 77 percent of the 2008 respondents report a shared and inclusive understanding of diversity in their department, and 64 percent report that their department provides visible leadership to foster diversity.
 
Relative to 2004 survey results, faculty and staff perceptions of the climate for diversity have improved incrementally, with the most notable increases in the areas of welcoming environment (from 72 percent to 77 percent favorable responses) and proactive measures to address discrimination based on sexual orientation (from 45 percent to 51 percent favorable responses) and age (from 37 percent to 44 percent favorable responses).
 
The report is available to the Penn State community at http://facultystaffsurvey.psu.edu.