IT FIGURES
by Jason Wallace, Thomas Bruick, Matt Venaas, and Sherry Woosley
Perhaps you have resigned yourself to all the talk about the Great Resignation. But to what extent has this shift in labor affected campus housing and student affairs? According to a survey conducted by Skyfactor and the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA), the story isn’t a happy one. But it’s not a hopeless one either.
The survey, conducted last October and intended to better understand the current work experiences of student affairs professionals, had 324 responses. Among those, half of the surveyed said they were being encouraged to leave their jobs either by colleagues at other institutions or by people outside of higher education. In addition, 37% were actively searching for a new job, and, among them, 19% were actively searching outside of higher education. The reasons for these feelings were not surprising, as the respondents pointed to a variety of challenges in their work. Nearly one-third indicated that they do not have a reasonable workload. Only 27% said they had a balance between their work and personal lives. And demonstrating a harmful domino effect, 43% said they were negatively impacted by the departure of close colleagues.
For some, the negative impacts stem from covering the extra work created by the departures of others. As one respondent wrote, “Currently I am covering for two positions that have not been filled and have been doing so for over a year.” Another commented, “Though I like my work, I have too much on my plate. If things are not reallocated or there are not additional hires, I will need to move on for better work/life balance.” Respondents also noted the urgency of these workload issues, with one commenting, “The number one stressor for me at work is my workload, which feels at times impossible for one person to accomplish. It seems that the workload of me and my colleagues is always increasing.”
When asked how their institution could improve employee experiences, one respondent wrote, “Stop asking staff to do more with less (money, resources, people) – they continue to expect the same level of efficiency and production, but many positions are unfilled. It's like being asked to continue to drive at race car speed with a tricycle.” Another specifically referenced filling vacancies: “We are not filling vacancies, but also not paying staff that are taking on the additional responsibilities.” One respondent simply stated, “Stop asking for huge results while providing no resources with which to achieve them.”
As the profession moves forward, leaders will need to consider actions that will impact the experiences of employees in meaningful and positive ways. The first, if at all possible, is to fill positions. Leaders must be mindful of the additional labor that professionals carry when positions are vacant. The second is to acknowledge the full humanity of staff and to identify intentional and creative ways to display gratitude for their work. Finally, departments must set priorities and understand that, with fewer people or resources, they may not be able to deliver everything they would like to. This also means being cognizant of the growing demands of the profession and not being afraid to eliminate services or programs that are no longer feasible.
While the results of this survey may be concerning, there is hope: Student affairs professionals still find deep meaning and joy in their work, and 63% of participants indicated that their work remains meaningful. This illustrates the opportunity for current and future student affairs leaders to be innovative change agents who usher the field into its next era.
Jason Wallace, Ph.D., is an assistant professor for higher education & student affairs administration at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and chair of the Research & Assessment Committee for SACSA. Thomas Bruick, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and program coordinator for college student personnel administration at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and vice president for scholarship & research for SACSA. Matt Venaas is a senior research manager, Skyfactor. Sherry Woosley, Ph.D., is the senior director of analytics & research for Skyfactor.
