January 28, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Susan Madsen
(801) 863-6176
During fall semester of 2007, Susan Madsen, associate professor of business management, provided seven undergraduate Human Resource students with an opportunity to be involved in a real-world employee survey that would also assist nonprofit agencies in Utah County.
“I created an independent course, Workforce Planning and Staffing, to provide students the opportunity to learn the research process and develop a higher level of quantitative analysis skills,” said Madsen. “I have used the academic service-learning pedagogy for years in my teaching and believed a community-based research project would lead to benefits for both students and the nonprofit community.”
UVSC students; Melissa Swasey, from Lehi, Utah; Deborah Hilton, from Pleasant Grove, Utah; Julie Hayden, from Highland, Utah; Carissa George, from Heber City, Utah; Bethany Finlinson, from Taylorsville, Utah; Angela Smith, from Payson, Utah; and Matthew Garner from Orem, designed a comprehensive employee survey and distributed it to 14 non profit agencies in Utah County to study employee retention and recruiting issues for nonprofit agencies.
Madsen and the students have presented their findings to the directors of United Way and its affiliated nonprofit agencies. Madsen and five of these students are also traveling to Maryland in April to present their findings at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research. In addition, a detailed published report of the study will be released this week to the nonprofit community and other interested organizations.
“We have lots of very interesting data and the nonprofit agencies are delighted to have such valuable and useful information. We’re thrilled to be able to help our community in such a unique way. I’ve had many comments from community directors and employees, and they’ve said they haven’t seen such a major research project come from undergraduates before.”
Regarding nonprofit employees in Utah County, the research group found that some of the top reasons workers stay with their agencies were: employees' awareness and belief in the mission of their agency, their internal desires to be involved in public service, their beliefs that their efforts are making a difference to the agency and the people it serves, and employees' satisfaction and trust in their coworkers and supervisors. Although the group found a connection between employee retention and compensation and benefits, other factors played a stronger role in employees’ decisions and willingness to stay with their agencies.
For more information on the study research results, they are posted online at www.uvsc.edu/profpages/view.cfm?user=10001977.
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College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Lisa Rose
(801) 863-8504