Higher Education Staff Experiences: Awareness of Challenges during COVID-19 in the California State University System

The COVID-19 global pandemic had far-ranging consequences for California State University higher education union staff members' mental health and well-being. Research had not yet examined the impact of the pandemic on the California State University system's union front line higher education staff members. The aim of this study was to identify the perceived consequences of the COVID-19 global pandemic on California State University higher education union staff members and their work. This research study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Five characteristics were probed through use of an electronic survey: (a) stress, (b) anxiety, (c) isolation, (d) communication, and (e) computer hardware. These five factors were selected to help understand how staff were affected by the official work from home mandate on California State University's higher education staff members. The Winter 2021 electronic survey consisted of 257 participants (mean age 49.50; 25.3% male, 67.3% female, and other 7.4%) from 7 of 24 unique California State universities responded to the survey. Nationally, consistently high levels of stress, anxiety, isolation, communication, and computer hardware needs were observed regardless of the number of COVID-19 cases. Of the respondents, 44.8% had greater stress, 42% had greater anxiety, 26.8% had greater isolation, 32.3% experienced less communication, and 18.3% had insufficient levels of computer hardware. Six significant correlations to the respondent's demographic variables were found. Stress levels were higher for those who (a) worked more years in their current unit, (b) worked more years in their current classification, and (c) were non-White. (d) Isolation was greater for men. (e) Communication was perceived to be less for those that had been in their current classification for longer periods of time. (f) Hispanic employees were more likely to agree that many of their job responsibilities could be performed effectively at home. Results showed a need for more mental support resources and follow-up research. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]