Cape Fear Community College

Full-Time Faculty Comments

Faculty and Staff Survey, Spring, 2002

     

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (FOUNDATION AND GRANTS)

 

1.   Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

p1.  Pat Hickmon – enthusiasm, friendly, helpful, supportive.

 

s1.  Fall ’01 semester, Pat Hickmon and her staff helped me to develop a class project in which the students acted as advocates for a community organization or as a funding agency.  Ms. Hickmon was very generous with her time and expertise.  The students enjoyed and appreciated the time she took with them.  This project was very successful.  That the Resource Development agents are so willing to support and assist in an academic project says a great deal about their commitment to our students.  I commend them and would like to publicly express my appreciation.

 

2.   Policies and information about grants and the Foundation are effectively communicated.

 

v.   We need a grant writer – especially in times of budget crunch.

 

3.   I am aware that the Foundation supports special faculty and staff projects.

 

4.   I am aware that I can designate my Campus Fund Drive contribution to any option listed on the giving sheet.

 

5.   I am aware that the Ambassadors are available to assist faculty & staff on special projects/events.

 

b.   I’ve heard of them but not sure of their responsibilities to faculty and staff.

 

g.   Didn’t know they could help with a faculty/departmental project.

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS)

 

6.   Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

q.   Patsy is courteous and helpful.

 

7.   Requests for services or information are handled within a reasonable time.

 

k1.  How can Institutional Effectiveness help faculty?

  

8    Assistance provided to departments in planning for institutional effectiveness is satisfactory.         

 

9.   The process and procedures for planning and institutional effectiveness are effectively communicated.

 

10. I have sufficient opportunities to be involved in planning in my department.

 

h1.  Sometimes it’s hard because of student load.

 

i1.   Because of student load I am unable to be involved in planning.

 


PUBLIC INFORMATION

 

11.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

a1.  Trixi is wonderful!

 

12.  Requests for public information services are handled in a reasonable time.

 

13.  I feel CFCC’s programs and services are effectively promoted to the public.

 

a.   I feel that more emphasis should be placed on recruiting, especially from high schools for the vocational/technical programs. It should not be the instructor’s job to recruit.

 

i.    Ads sometimes imply that all that is required for admission is to show up on registration day.

 

14.  College publications are accurate and appealing.

 

 

COPY CENTER

 

15.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

w.  Sometimes staff is rude.

 

s1.  Gloria and Eva are very supportive and helpful no matter what my copy needs.  They have often given me guidance about copying that has saved me time and resources.

 

16.  Copy center requests are processed in a reasonable time.

 

o.   The copy center does a great job, however I wish we had something like “express” copying as a service also.  If I think of something “creative” the night before, I would like to be able to pop in to the copy center and get it copied on the spot.  Just a suggestion.

 

w.  Time frame – frequently not ready at requested time.

 

l1.   Requests for the copy center take too long.  Many times I five one week notice – which I believe is adequate time – not done.

 

17.  Copies are performed correctly.

 

 

s.    Too many errors in copying tests, etc.

 

v.   Often find pages missing from copies.

 

w.  Incorrect copies (sometimes)

 

f1.  Big improvement in Copy Center service over the last year!.

 

s1.  In an effort to save time and resources, I often request copying that requires additional handling such as cutting copies in half then drilling holes in either the top or bottom.  Gloria and Eva have always been willing to do whatever meets my needs.  Best of all, they always get it right!  On the rare instance that they were not able to decipher my multiple instructions, they have called me for clarification.  I truly appreciate their expertise, assistance and support.

 

 

PRINT SHOP

 

18.   Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

19.   Printing requests are processed in a reasonable time.

 


BUSINESS OFFICE

 

20.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

v.   Notification of phone system and training schedule wholly unrealistic.

 

21.  Quality of services provided by the cashier’s window is satisfactory.

 

p1.  It is difficult to get petty cash.  I had to make four trips to get a receipt reimbursed.

 

22.  The business office provides adequate and timely budget reports to departments. 

 

v.   Would like to access online (using SS#/code).

 

23.  Final budget allocations are relayed to department-level personnel. 

 

24.  Budget transfers are clear and made known to the programs involved.

 

a.   The budget printout is confusing and isn’t presented each month.

 

25.  Payroll services are adequate to meet my needs. 

 

f1.  Direct deposit forms need to be sent out earlier.  Consistently, I get mine 2-7 days after payday.

 

p1.  Checks like longevity added to salary increase taxes.  Would be nice to have separate checks.

 

r1.  Is it possible to have the allotments/charity deductions listed by organization?  Loretta does an outstanding job!!

 

26.  Services for parking are satisfactory for my needs.

 

f.    Faculty and staff should not have to pay for parking

 

q.   Parking seems to be a problem for part-timers.

 

27.  My travel requests are processed within a reasonable time.

 

f1.  Travel advance money is often not available prior to a conference, even when advanced approval is given.

 

 

PURCHASING/RECEIVING, INVENTORY, MAILROOM

 

28.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

r.    28 and 32.  Interactions with this department have always been friendly, courteous and helpful.  I made a suggestion on a product and the suggestion was not only received well, but seemed to be appreciated.

 

p1.  David Long – great – efficient, smile.

 

29.  My purchase requisitions are processed within a reasonable time.

 

q.   It could be faster.

 

j1.   Purchasing has always been understaffed and overworked.  Ann and Sheila are troopers on their job, they deserve a RAISE!!!

 

30.  Purchasing policies and procedures are communicated and easy to follow.

 

31.  Inventory procedures are effectively communicated and easy to follow.

 

32.  Mailroom services are satisfactory.

 

v.   Turnaround time is too long

 

 

COMPUTER SERVICES

 

33.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

c.   I do not find Computer Services courteous. They always have a message on and do not return calls. Some problems can wait and some cannot (guest lecturer who cannot properly adjust equipment). Why can’t they be like Sears? At least Sears will give you a timeframe for when they will address your problem (next day, next week, between 1 and 5 etc.). I never hear anything and when you call again they act like they are being bothered. Why can’t they email us?

 

k1.  Computer Services is attentive to my needs and performs an incredible service with minimal personnel.

 

p1.  Staff always there when needed!

 

r1.  33-36.  Computer Services is understaffed.  In spite of this, their staff are friendly and helpful and do their best to respond to customer needs.

 

34.  HELP desk calls/requests for services are handled within a reasonable time.

 

d.   Sometimes when a problem arises and I am not there when it is getting fixed, a note saying technician was there, had to order part, will come back to complete would be helpful.

 

n.   Computer HELP desk needs to have a better response to application software problems/questions than “go take a course.”  Several times, calls left on HELP desk voice-mail have not been returned.

 

r.    This item seems to have improved since last year.

 

s1.  I have had a few challenges this semester but have always been able to count on Computer Services to help me through them.  As often as not, the challenge arose from my lack of expertise.  As a result, a computer services technician, most often Billy Grier, has had to decipher my needs and help me work through the challenge.  Whenever I have asked for instruction so I can learn some process, Billy has been willing to provide such instruction, very patiently, I might add.

            Bill Hodder is another technician that has been a major support this semester from keeping my computer under control to providing instruction in using the SmartBoard.  He has even taken the time to assist one of my students when the class computer ate her disc.  He was able to not only retrieve the disc but worked to help save most of her valuable work.

            I could not have developed my internet course without the assistance of Doug Eyman.  He is my advisor, guide, teacher and supporter.  I had to learn the system quickly and Doug stayed by my side, literally, to help me through the learning curve and he is still there whenever I have a need or just want to discuss some possible project.

            I believe we are very fortunate in the quality of staff we have in our computer services department.

 

35.  Technical support provided by computer services is adequate for my needs. 

 

36.  Training for the use of computers and software meets my needs.

 


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

37.  Information technology available at CFCC is adequate to meet the needs of the college.

 

k.   Smart board computers do not have enough memory.  SLOW.  Won’t support same power point presentations made in learning lab.

 

y.   We need computer labs in each classroom building open for use by students.

 

38.  Replacement of college computers and software is consistent with current technology.

 

39.  Computer equipment in my work area is adequate for my needs.

 

z.    Our curriculum (Marine technology) needs a dedicated computer lab that would allow us to schedule our classes on a first priority basis.  This would allow us to integrate specialized software into our existing courses.

 

b1.  My computer takes forever to bring up my e-mail.  I was told this is because of our building location connection.

 

n1.  It would be nice to have more printers and colored printers.

 

r1.  It would be helpful to have mass storage installed on instructor/staff computers.

 

40.  Computer software in my work area is up-to-date and adequate for my needs.

 

k.   Smart board computers need more memory.

 

o1.  I would like to have the opportunity to get familiar with software my students will run into in businesses (related to what I teach) even if we don’t offer training in that software.  Example:  PeopleSoft and financial analysis software packages.  Apparently, it’s not in the department budget and it’s not authorized to go on my computer, and these software programs usually require more/bigger/better hardware than I have available.  I can’t teach it or talk about it or demonstrate it if I can’t even see it.

 

 

BOOKSTORE

 

41.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

g.   Too new to tell much (Bookstore).

 

j.    The staff is abrupt and for lack of a better word -- clueless – especially the manager.

 

q.   41-43.  There should not be a buy-back day for textbooks in mid-semester!  This invites theft or “pawning” your book.

 

v.   Dramatic improvement in quality and responsiveness.  Tough to come in and clean up mess of botched ordering.

 

w.  Much better!

 

b1.  Tried to get books for a class I was taking.  I had my first day handout with me, which showed what I needed.  The lady told me the instructor doesn’t know what she’s talking about.  I got what the bookstore told me I needed.  It was wrong.  The instructor was right, and the materials I needed weren’t in until the third week of class.

 

f1.  41-42.  I constantly get reports from students that staff is rude and unwilling to help.  I have, once or twice, experienced this myself.  Weeks into the semester, I still had not gotten texts I had ordered in October so as to avoid problems.

 

42.  Required texts and materials are available for students and classroom use in a reasonable time.

     

a.   Every semester the bookstore has failed to acquire all of the books I require, even though I put ISBN numbers and contact persons on my order forms.

 

b.   Miscommunication sometimes happens.

 

d.   I’m sure this will get better next semester. If there is some way instructors could be notified if books are not in before semester begins and when they will be expected.

 

g.   Too new to tell much (Bookstore).

 

i.    Text unavailability has been frustrating to students.

 

j.    Personally, I did not receive my books for my class until 3 weeks into the program.  It is unacceptable and I hope it was just because there was a transition going on.

 

k.   Text book was not available when class started in fall.

 

r.    I suppose the poor performance in this area is due to this being the first year of operation for this management.

 

e1.  Major problem getting some text.  Some as much as a month late.

 

43.  The hours of operation are satisfactory

 

g.   Too new to tell much (Bookstore).

 

 

FOOD SERVICES

 

44.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

r.    44-47.  I haven’t used Food Services since they moved.

 

45.  The quality and variety of food selections are satisfactory.

 

i.    Major improvement with new facility.

 

q.   We need a food court approach – burgers or subs, pizza, smoothies, etc.

 

k1.  More vegetables without cheese sauce.

 

46.  Hours of operation are satisfactory.

 

g.   Really close at 11:00 am on Friday as per the PIO events monitor S building, 2nd floor elevator lobby.

 

47.  Maintenance and cleanliness of the food services area are satisfactory.

 

 

HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

 

48.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

 

a.   48-52 Housekeeping in my classroom is non-existent. I was informed years ago that complaining would only be ignored, and I was correctly informed. When the contractor was let go and housekeeping became staff I thought things would change. I was naive. Things have gotten worse. I am now expected to clean my own office, sweep and mop my classroom, clean the desks, clean the blackboard and on occasion, empty the trashcans. Complaining does no good. It just aggravates the department, who in retaliation do less.

 

s.    48-52.  The dry-erase boards in the N wing are not correctly cleaned.  Please use the correct cleaners.

 

k1.  Housekeeping manager treats staff in rude and demeaning manner.  Supervision of evening housekeeping is poor.  Daytime housekeeping is attentive to needs of faculty/staff/students.

 

49.  Variety and types of housekeeping services provided are adequate.

 

d.   49, 50 Floors are the biggest problem I see. They need to be immaculate for areas of the college where treatment services are available. Bathrooms are much improved. The problem with the bathrooms are the people who use them and not the people who maintain them.

 

f.    Classrooms are not even swept on a nightly basis.  Floors only cleaned one time per semester.  Very little dusting.

 

e1.  Getting better but appearance of the college still needs attention.

 

g1.  Computers, monitors and computer desks in labs are never dusted.  Housekeeping should keep up with this better.

 

r1.  49-50.  All computer labs need to be swept and dusted regularly.  Currently, whiteboards are clean and wastebaskets emptied – only whiteboards should be cleaned with plain water – no detergent – then buffed dry.

 

50.  Buildings and classrooms are clean and well kept.

 

b.   Floors are sometimes dirty.

 

f.    Floors only cleaned one time per semester.  Very little dusting.

 

r.    50-52.  A definite improvement, especially the bathrooms.

 

f1.  My classrooms are still often dirty and dusty, even computer labs.  I find myself cleaning up frequently.

 

51.  Bathrooms are clean and stocked adequately.

 

f.    Toilets are cleaned but floors are awful.

 

n1.  Linda does an excellent job in my area!

 

o1.  Cleaning has improved and maybe the restrooms are just as over crowded as the buildings are, but they usually smell bad and look grimy.

 

52.  Overall, housekeeping services are satisfactory.

 

f.    We have new buildings that are already becoming run down.  May be lack of supervision.

 

s1.  I truly appreciate the efforts of the housekeeping services staff.  I have been to many bathrooms throughout this campus and you can tell that someone has been working hard to maintain them.  I know that in some areas this is a major challenge but the staff person’s efforts are visible.  In my mind, you can tell the quality of an establishment by how effectively they keep their personal facilities and ours are kept very well.

      My classrooms are kept well considering the amount of traffic they receive.  I have been in classrooms in other facilities where your shoes scraped with the dirt and sand, but I have never experienced this situation here.  Again, I believe we are fortunate in the quality of staff we have in our housekeeping.

 

 

FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

 

53.  Staff is courteous and helpful.

     

e.   Maintenance staff heads seem to be indifferent to Vocational Department.

 

i.    A major improvement from the last couple of years.

 

p1.  Phil Brown and Henry Tootoo – always professional – always helpful – always a smile.

 

54.  Staff responds to requests for services within a 5-day timeframe.

 

a.   Housekeeping falls under facilities maintenance. The behavior and job performance exhibited by housekeeping is a direct reflection on the Director of the Maintenance Department.

 

e.   Seems to be a slow response (or none) sometimes from Maintenance Department. Also, use of the “CFCC owned” truck seems to sole property of Maintenance Department and some departments need it from time to time.

 

g.   Do get an initial response most of the time (within this 5 day time frame), no follow-up about when work will be initiated, progress, or continued if stop part way through.  MT still awaiting installation of bio lab tables taking up storage space since last fall.  Awaiting plumbing work – we understand about their ‘freezing machine’ but can’t one be rented or work contracted out if ours can’t be fixed?  Might want to include a question about timeliness of requested work completion.

 

t.    Five days!  That’s way too long when you have an overheated classroom.  Some requests require immediate attention so a class is not cancelled.