A survey carried out among staff at Bermuda College has shown a rise in morale and job satisfaction following a big slump early last year.

College workers, including faculty and administration staff, were asked to give their opinions on the same 13 statements they were given in the spring of 2001, and asked whether they agreed or disagreed with them.

The statements related to morale, understanding of the college mission, motivation and leadership. And in all but two cases, more people this year agreed with the statements than 12 months ago.

Last year, only 14 percent of staff agreed that morale at Bermuda College was high. This year the figure has gone up to 29 percent.

However, 52 percent of workers agreed that morale in their individual departments was high, in comparison to 40 percent last year.

The number of people who now understood the mission of the college has almost doubled, from 46 percent in 2001, to 80 percent this year.

And 65 percent of people believed the college was actually fulfilling its mission now, as opposed to just 27 percent last time. But one of the biggest jumps came when people were asked whether they agreed that the leadership at the executive level of the college was effective.

Last year, only 18 percent people agreed, but this year that number jumped to 61 percent

College president Dr. Michael Orenduff said the first ever morale survey was held in May of last year, and was repeated this year to see if things had improved.

He said: "Last year, a majority of college staff reported that they were not clear on the mission of the college. This year, 80 percent of employees said the mission of the college is clear to them. Obviously, the college is going to perform better when everyone knows what we are trying to do.

"And that is, as we have been saying to everyone on the Island, student success.

"I am heartened that the number of staff who believe morale is high has doubled. But we still have a lot of work to do. I want that number to double again next year." The survey also showed that people were more satisfied with the way decisions were made at the college, compared to the past, with the figures jumping from 14 percent last year to 44 percent this year.

And 79 percent of people said they were proud to be an employee of the college. Last year, that figure was only 65 percent.

However, when it came to department heads communicating well with their departments, only 53 percent agreed that that was the case, a five percent drop on last year.

And on the issue of department heads motivating their staff, 56 percent of people agreed that they did well - a three percent drop on 2001.

Dr. Orenduff added: "It is gratifying to see that the percentage of employees who believe that leadership at the college is effective has increased by almost 250 percent.

"That is not primarily a reflection on me, or others in the executive; that is the result of being clear about the mission and then empowering our faculty and support staff to use their expertise to get us there.

"The college is working, and, obviously, that makes the executive look good, but it is the staff that makes the college work."