San Diego Mesa College Survey Revealed Staff Trust Gaps
While Mesa College staff find their work meaningful, concerns regarding leadership trust and retaliation have emerged.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Administration
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Chancellor Greg Smith recently presented district-wide Campus Climate Survey results, highlighting that while most employees feel their work is meaningful, significant mistrust in executive leadership remains. The findings emerged from a fall 2025 study involving 5,284 district participants.
Why it matters
The survey underscores a divide between employee dedication and their relationship with administration, driven by reported fears of reprisal and high workloads. Understanding these internal dynamics is essential for families and students gauging the stability and morale of local academic institutions.
The study drew from 5,284 district-wide participants, including 252 staff members at Mesa College. Financial records show the district holds $98.5 million in reserves, representing 25% of the 2026-27 projected expenses of $405.8 million, a significant increase from the 2% reserve held in 2018-19.
The players
Greg Smith
The current chancellor of the district who is navigating staff concerns regarding leadership transparency and workplace climate.
Mesa College
A San Diego educational institution that serves as the local site for recent district-wide administrative climate discussions.
The details
The climate survey measured factors including belonging, safety, and peer relationships within the district. Despite positive board leadership ratings from 80% of employees, Chancellor Smith noted that many staff members feel they lack the capacity to fulfill their professional purposes. Contributors to this workplace strain include high workloads and limited state funding, compounded by a culture where employees expressed apprehension about participating in surveys due to potential retaliation.
Timeline
The district reserve was 2% of expenses during the 2018-19 period.
The Campus Climate Survey data collection occurred in the fall of 2025.
Chancellor Smith presented the survey findings on September 17, 2026.
The district projects a $405.8 million budget for the 2026-27 cycle.
The Home Front
The district's current 25% reserve status represents a significant fiscal recovery when measured against the 2018-19 district reserve level of 2%. This shift in financial health contrasts with ongoing personnel concerns, highlighting the gap between institutional fiscal stability and internal morale.
Families with students at the college should monitor upcoming budget cycles, as the 2026-27 $405.8 million revenue and expense projection will influence future programming and resources. Pay attention to district-wide communications regarding leadership changes or policy shifts as the administration attempts to address current staff morale issues.
The takeaway
While the district has significantly bolstered its financial reserves since 2018-19, addressing the human-capital challenges reported by staff remains a central administrative priority. Residents should keep an eye on how these workplace climate issues influence the district's 2026-27 budget implementation.
Further reading
Find more updates on local institutional policies in the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mesa Press.
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