Investing in the well-being of the people across the NDSU community is a key area of focus for our organization, and employee engagement is a main contributor. 

Gallup’s brief, 17-question survey will assess engagement for staff and faculty. The results will provide data to inform action planning that will make a positive impact on the people of NDSU. The survey is completely confidential, with no individual data being shared with NDSU. 

Why is employee engagement important?

What is the Q12 Survey?

Q12+ list of 17 survey questions

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• October 14 - Survey opens
• November 1 - Survey closes
• December - High-level survey results available, supervisors trained on how to facilitate discussions
• January 2025- Supervisors lead facilitated discussions with teams, teams identify one area to work on and consult with Gallup resources
• February - Supervisors submit action plan via Gallup platform

After the survey, supervisors will meet with their units to review their unit-specific results and create action plans for improvement. It is expected that all units will develop action plans. The survey will be administered again in one year to measure progress.

Contact ndsu.wellbeing@ndsu.edu for questions or to request a presentation for your group about EEI and the survey.

You can also reach out directly to any member of the Employee Engagement Initiative Steering Committee. Members are:

• Co-Chair Laura Oster-Aaland, Vice-Provost for Student Affairs and Institutional Equity
• Co-Chair Carrie Anne Platt, Vice-Provost for Faculty Affairs
• Kristina Astrup, Associate Director of Organizational Development, Human Resources
• Emily Berg, Director, Office of Institutional Research and Analysis
• Jeff Boyer, Vice-Provost for Assessment and Strategic Initiatives
• Patty Dirk, Director, Student Health Service
• Mark Genkinger, Director, Human Resources
• Emily Hegg, Associate Director of Campus Well-being, Student Health Service
• Kathryn Kloby, Vice-President for Communication and Marketing
• Mary Leff, Project Assistant, Student Health Service
• Brynn Rawlings, Media Relations Coordinator, University Relations
• Kristi Steinmann, Communication and Strategic Partnerships Lead, Information Technology
• Marc Wallman, Vice-President for Information Technology

Why are we doing another assessment or survey? What is the purpose?  

Investing in the well-being of the people across the NDSU community continues to be one of President Cook’s five strategic priorities, and employee engagement is a main contributor. While we have assessments in place to measure student well-being (ACHA-NCHA), we do not have an instrument for measuring employee well-being. The purpose of this survey is to provide a baseline on employee engagement. Meaningful change will result from the survey through team action planning. Subsequent surveys will provide data to gauge progress and inform future changes. 

Why are we assessing engagement? How does that relate to well-being? 

Gallup’s research shows a reciprocal relationship between engagement and well-being. Each influences the future state of the other. Engagement can be viewed as a leading indicator of well-being.

When employees are engaged in our community, for example, they are likely reflecting institutional pride, applying their talents to the best of their ability and contributing to a positive campus culture and working environment. This can also impact student success and retention. 

Are my responses to the survey confidential? 

Gallup’s methodology ensures confidentiality of individual responses. Gallup administers the survey off-site and reports aggregated results by work unit. Gallup does not generate reports for groups of less than five. No member of NDSU has access to data that identifies specific employee responses.

You are encouraged to answer all questions honestly. Your feedback will help us determine the state of NDSU employee engagement today, so that we can build on our strengths and identify areas for support.

How many questions are in the survey? How long will it take me to participate? 

You'll be asked to rate your level of agreement with 17 statements in the survey, which should only take 5-10 minutes of your time to complete.

Why have we chosen to partner with Gallup?  

Gallup is a nationally recognized workplace survey and action firm.  They were chosen for their emphasis on taking action in response to data and their resources for helping leaders make improvements to employee’s workplace experiences. They were selected for a 3-year contract through a competitive bidding process.

Who is eligible to participate in the survey?  

The survey will be sent to approximately 3,000 NDSU full and part-time employees, including administrators, faculty, staff, researchers, professional and support personnel. Students employed by NDSU, including graduate students, will not take part in the Gallup survey. 

When and how will the survey be administered?  

The survey will be sent via email on October 14. Employees will receive an email from Gallup that will include an individual survey link. The survey will be open for a period of three weeks, closing November 1.  

How will I participate if I don’t have regular access to a computer? 

A special URL will be shared with staff that don’t regularly access their email, and time will be reserved in computer labs on campus to encourage participation. 

When will results be shared?   

Results will be available soon after close of the survey. Gallup will assist with interpretation of results and information will be shared in November, 2024.   

What will we do with the results?  

Data from the survey will inform action planning that is expected of each department or team. Supervisors will lead their groups in reviewing survey results and implementing action planning. All department/unit members will be part of the planning process. 

How will people be prepared and supported with an action plan?  

Gallup will provide support and access to tools for action planning through their group presentations and online platform. In addition, Gallup will work in an advisory capacity with leaders within NDSU to advance action planning.  

What happens when our contract with Gallup ends?  

Gallup is a partner and a resource, but the people of NDSU are the creators and instruments of change. During the three-year Gallup contract, we will have support to create a sustainable process of assessment, evaluation and action to help embed improvement of employee well-being in our culture.   

Share a reminder to take the Employee Engagement Survey with your colleagues in your physical workspace and print out a poster.

Employee Engagement Survey Poster