American University
PA-10: Assessing Employee Satisfaction

Institution conducts a survey or other evaluation that allows for anonymous feedback to measure employee satisfaction and engagement. The survey or equivalent may be conducted institution-wide or may be done by individual departments or divisions. The evaluation addresses (but is not limited to) the following areas: 

• Job satisfaction 
• Learning and advancement opportunities 
• Work culture and work/life balance 

The institution has a mechanism in place to address issues raised by the evaluation. 

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1 point available for this credit by conducting an assessment of employee satisfaction and engagement that meets the criteria outlined above and that covers all employees (directly or by representative sample). Incremental points are available based on the percentage of employees assessed. For example, an institution that regularly assesses the satisfaction of all faculty members (who compose ⅓ of all employees), but does not assess staff (who compose ⅔ of employees) would earn ⅓ point (⅓ of the points available for this credit). 

An institution that conducts an assessment using a representative sample earns points based on the total population from which the sample is drawn. For example, an institution that conducts an assessment with a sample that is representative of the entire employee population would earn the maximum of 1 point available for this credit. Likewise, an institution that that conducts an assessment with a sample that is representative of 50 percent of its total employee population would earn 0.5 points (half of the points available for this credit). 

An institution that conducts an assessment of an unrepresentative portion of the employee population earns points based on the actual number of employees assessed. For example, an institution that conducts a mandatory survey of all non-supervisory staff (60 percent of the total employee population) would earn 0.6 points (60 percent of the points available for this credit). 

Timeframe

Report on the most recent employee satisfaction and engagement evaluation conducted during the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission and on current policies and practices. 

Sampling and Data Standards

Institutions may choose to assess employee satisfaction and engagement by administering a survey or the equivalent to a representative sample of the employee population being assessed or by surveying the entire employee population being assessed (e.g. by making the assessment mandatory). Institutions may report on a single assessment or on multiple assessments that target different groups (e.g. faculty, supervisory staff, and non-supervisory staff).