HR Excellence: Calling for OWL Staff Opinions

vector image with an owl on a branch for the perch perspective

Rice will debut its inaugural staff satisfaction and climate survey, the Perch Perspective, on February 5. As part of the HR Excellence Portfolio, the survey will collect staff viewpoints to understand what staff members value and explore opportunities to enhance the employee experience. Staff input is crucial as it will inform plans to make Rice a great workplace for everyone.

The Perch Perspective is a comprehensive inquiry designed to identify what staff like about Rice and how the work experience can be enhanced. The survey will explore a range of topics, including employee engagement, learning and development, compensation and benefits, leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, and others.

The survey, administered by NORC at the University of Chicago, is designed to be anonymous to encourage open and honest feedback, and your responses will be confidential.

Committed to creating an environment where employees are enthusiastic about their work and their workplace, the survey will focus on collecting insights to inform ways in which the university can:

  • Empower positive change: Feedback will directly influence initiatives and changes to improve the work environment, ensuring Rice remains an outstanding workplace.
  • Enhance employee satisfaction: By understanding staff needs and concerns, a more supportive and inclusive community for everyone will be fostered, and meaningful changes will be made where necessary.
  • Drive innovation: Unique staff experiences and ideas will spark innovation and help Rice grow as an institution.

Analysis of the survey data will begin after the survey closes on February 29. A report will be provided to the project sponsors, who will share key takeaways with the staff in late summer.

President Reginald DesRoches, Kelly Fox, and Joan Nelson serve as the executive oversight for this project and encourage staff to participate in the survey to help shape Rice’s future and inform ongoing improvement efforts. The advisory committee, a diverse group representing the campus community, has been actively involved in the survey creation process.

NAME CAMPUS AFFILIATION

Danielle King

Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences

Michelle Thackray

Associate Vice President, Operational Excellence and Engagement

Victoria Langlais

Assistant Dean of Human Resources and Administration

Karen Rubinsky

Assistant Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations

Sarah Wolfe

Division Manager, Office of Investments

Mauricio Benitez

Associate Provost and Senior Advisor

Korin Brody

Associate Director of Community Learning & Engagement

Keia Clark

Benefits Specialist, Human Resources

Louma Ghandour

Director, Office of Faculty Development

Petko Ivanov

Biosafety Specialist and current Staff Council President

Allie Kieffer

Associate Professor of Musicology and current Faculty Senate Chair

Chetna Koshy

Associate Vice President for Ethics, Compliance, and Enterprise Risk & CCO

Yesenia Montoya

Assistant Vice Provost for DEI

Arun Natarajan

Associate Provost for Institutional Research & Institutional Effectiveness

Additional information about the survey, including information sessions, is available online. For questions about the survey tool, contact ricesurvey@norc.org. Other questions should be directed to Becca Gould, in Human Resources, at gould@rice.edu.