Massey University declared a deficit of $45.5 million last year, but hopes to break even next year. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Clarification: A line has been added to indicate AI was used to summarise survey comments.
Massey University staff have a negative view of management at the institution, with less than a quarter of respondents to a staff survey saying leaders at the institution are communicating a vision that motivates them.
Only a quarter of staff believe there is open and honest two-way communication.
The results come from a 'staff engagement pulse survey', a summary of which - dated from August - was obtained by the Free Speech Union.
The university has gone through major change in the past couple of years. It declared a deficit of $45.5 million last year and slashed courses and jobs, including major reductions to science.
RNZ revealed earlier this year that more than 500 courses were "retired" in 2024, compared with what was on offer in 2023.
A Tertiary Education Commission briefing from earlier this year also identified Massey as being at high risk financially, although the university disputed this.
Massey vice-chancellor Jan Thomas told RNZ its deficit this year would be significantly less than the $30m budgeted, and it could reach the break even point next year, a year earlier than forecast.
But the 1373 Massey staff who responded to the staff engagement survey - a 51 percent response rate - across its three campuses in Palmerston North, Auckland and Wellington did not paint a rosy picture.
Just 22 percent agreed with the statement "the leaders at Massey have communicated a vision that motives me", and only 25 percent agreed that "at Massey University there is open and honest two-way communication".
Figures were not given for the number of negative or neutral responses, but graphics in the survey showed about half the respondents disagreed with the two statements.
Of the comments about the leaders at Massey, 72 percent were negative and 6 percent positive.
"Staff are not motivated by the university's vision. The feel that the vision is unclear, uninspiring, and not grounded in reality," said an AI-created summary of negative comments.
Artificial intelligence was used to summarise survey comments.
"Staff also feel that the university is prioritising financial recovery over supporting staff and ensuring quality education."
A positive comment said: "The 20-year horizon and the vision of being Te Tiriti led are motivating. The campus reimagining and international status are also seen positively."
A negative comment about two-way communication said: "Staff also fear that they are not safe to express their honest opinions for fear of reprisal of being seen as not toeing the party line."
This concerned the Free Speech Union, which said when there was fear, self-censorship would follow.
"Universities rely on voices being free. How do academics progress knowledge in an environment that doesn't welcome debate and dissenting ideas?"
A positive comment about the two-way communication praised Massey's "official and legally-correct communication style".
Forty-two percent of Massey survey respondents agreed that leaders kept people informed of what is happening, 52 percent that information they needed to do their job effectively was readily available, 70 percent that their manager kept them informed, and 48 percent that most people made an effort to consult other staff where appropriate.
Thomas said the survey results provided genuine insight into how staff were feeling.
She said staff felt some areas were going well, such as 65 percent "acknowledge improvements in communication and transparency from senior leadership. There is a sense of appreciation for efforts to keep staff informed during challenging times, particularly regarding the university's financial situation."
There were areas to improve, such as more opportunities for staff to hear from senior leadership, Thomas said.
Massey's senior leadership team had carefully considered the feedback and "committed to a range of actions to improve communication and collaboration in each area across the university".