University Survey Provides Insight Into Faculty and Staff Perspectives on Workplace Climate

The University has released the results of the Columbia Employee Climate and Engagement Survey, which invited faculty and staff to share their perspectives on a spectrum of issues, including their comfort on campus, their sense of belonging, workload and career development, freedom to speak freely, and the institution’s commitment to its mission.

The survey, conducted by Rankin Climate LLC in collaboration with Columbia’s Office of Planning and Institutional Research (OPIR), was administered in September 2025, a reflective time for the University on the heels of its agreement with the federal government to resolve inquiries into violations of federal anti-discrimination laws. That agreement followed an academic year marked by more than 100 campus demonstrations.

The survey was designed in recognition of the need for a comprehensive tool that would measure the experiences and perceptions of faculty and staff, identifying priority areas for growth and change and providing insights into ways to build on the University community’s existing strengths.

The University’s Inaugural Climate Survey

This was the first climate survey of its kind, administered to faculty and staff University-wide, with plans for it to be conducted regularly going forward. 

The survey was developed with a Climate Study Working Group composed of 11 Columbia faculty, staff, and administrators who collaborated with Rankin on an assessment of 50 quantitative and nine qualitative questions. A total of 3,847 employees participated in the survey, a 13% response rate, which included 30% faculty and 70% staff. 

“The results of this survey are candid and clear: The work our faculty and staff do every day reflects a strong shared commitment to Columbia’s mission. At the same time, we have more work to do to ensure that everyone on campus feels a sense of belonging, and that their ideas are welcomed and valued,” said Provost Angela V. Olinto, Rutherfurd Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Physics. 

The survey found faculty and staff generally felt comfortable within their local schools or departments but less so with the overall campus climate. A majority of the faculty respondents (65%) said they felt “comfortable” or “very comfortable” with the climate in their classes. However, just 32% of all respondents said they felt comfortable with the institution’s overall climate.

The survey showed wide agreement that Columbia values the core tenets of its mission, including research, teaching, and clinical care, with fewer agreeing the University valued service contributions.

Faculty respondents said connections to students and colleagues kept them at Columbia, while staff respondents said it was their colleagues, benefits, and connection to their supervisors or managers that retained them.

There was a measure of frustration expressed among respondents in a perceived lack of proactive communication by the University, particularly around the resolution agreement. A majority of the faculty and staff who responded reported they did not feel comfortable expressing personal views or political opinions on campus.

The survey design and preliminary results were included in the University’s monitoring report to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as part of its accreditation follow-up process. MSCHE, which affirmed Columbia’s accreditation in March, is a global institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education since 1952. 

Results Will Help Inform Improvements

While the results of the survey will help inform improvements moving forward, the University already is engaged in multiple efforts to strengthen dialogue and engagement. For example, Columbia University Life is partnering with the Constructive Dialogue Institute, to conduct interviews with faculty, staff, and student leaders to better understand how dialogue and bridge-building are currently supported across all schools and units. This process will provide a clearer picture of the assets, relationships, conditions, and challenges that shape dialogue and engagement across Columbia. The perspectives collected will help University leadership understand how this work is taking place and identify both gaps to be filled and opportunities to build on existing efforts.

Columbia also is working to boost capacity for constructive engagement with structured dialogue platforms, interdisciplinary intellectual convenings, institutional listening sessions, and mentorship and development programs. 

“These survey results provide a necessary and honest baseline that will directly inform our efforts to continue enhancing the well-being and professional growth of all faculty and staff,” said Daniel L. Driscoll, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. “We recognize the challenges highlighted in the survey and are dedicated to providing the resources and creating the spaces for dialogue needed to build a stronger community. Our priority is ensuring that every employee feels heard, valued, and equipped to contribute to our shared mission.”

The full results of the survey can be found here, as well as key resources supporting campus climate and engagement efforts. To provide additional feedback and recommendations, please email [email protected].