University of Wisconsin

Julie Furst-Bowe & Meridith WentzCo-chairs

Inclusive Excellence CommitteeJanuary 2011

Climate Assessment

Project Overview

Project Background

Tier III

2010-2011

UW-Green Bay UW-Madison UW-Platteville UW-Stout UW-Superior

Tier II

2008-2009UW-Eau Claire UW-Parkside UW-River Falls UW-Whitewater

Tier I

2007-2008 UW-La Crosse UW-Milwaukee UW-Colleges UW-Oshkosh UW-Stevens

Point

Why Conduct a Climate Assessment?

To foster a caring campus community that provides leadership for participation in a diverse, multicultural world. To create a welcoming and respectful environment for all students and employeesTo improve the environment for working and learning on campus.

Campus Climate & Students

How students experience their

campus environment influences both learning and

developmental outcomes.

Discriminatory environments have a negative effect on student learning.

Research supports the pedagogical value of

a diverse student body and faculty on enhancing learning

outcomes.

Campus Climate & Faculty/Staff

How employees experience the

campus environment influences both productivity and

satisfaction.

Discriminatory environments have a negative effect on

employee engagement and

well being.

Research supports the value of a diverse student body and

faculty/staff on enhancing quality of

work life.

Project Objectives

Provide participating institutions with information, analysis, and recommendations as they relate to campus climate.

This information will be used in conjunction with other data to provide participating institutions with an inclusive view of their campus.

Projected Outcomes

Participating institutions will add to their knowledge base with regard to how constituent groups currently feel about their particular campus climate and how the community responds to themParticipating institutions will use the results of the assessment to inform on-going work regarding diversity

Assessing Campus Climate

Rankin & Reason, 2008

What is it?

• Campus Climate is a construct

Definition?

• Current attitudes, behaviors, standards and practices of employees and students of an institution

How is it measured?

• Personal Experiences• Perceptions• Institutional Efforts

Survey Instrument

Instrument developed by Susan Rankin, Penn. State University, from a meta-analysis of diversity assessments from 35 institutions

Final instrument Customized language for UW System institutions

Quantitative questions and additional space for respondents to provide commentary

On-line or paper & pencil options

Sample = Population = ALL students, faculty, staff

Survey Responses

Survey was reviewed and approved by UW-Stout Institutional Research Board

All responses are confidential

All data analysis will be completed by Susan Rankin

Campus will receive a report of institutional results and overall results from all participating campuses

Survey Timeline

Survey begins: January 17th, 2011

Survey ends: February 15th, 2011

Results available: August/ September 2011

How to Participate

Website: https://online.survey.psu.edu/uwstout

Paper copies available: Those interested in paper surveys can pick them up at the Applied Research Center (15 Administration building). They will also be available at a session later today.

Surveys will be administered in classes on Monday, January 24th, and Wednesday, January 26th, from 9:05 to 10:00 AM – volunteer instructors needed!

How Results will be used for Improvement

To identify action items for our Inclusive Excellence plan

To identify potential university priorities to achieve our FOCUS 2015 goal on diversity

To share drill down information at the college/unit level for college/unit initiatives

To identify initiatives to achieve our Growth Agenda goals

To share with committees responsible for: race/ethnicity, LGBTQ, women, persons w/disabilities to suggest initiatives that could be incorporated into university action plans

Questions..? Other Ideas..?

Keynote Address: “Creating Communities of Respectful Engagement”

Is society becoming more uncivil? Research on the increasing numbers of

uncivil behaviors on college campuses Strategies for dealing with incivility and

creating a more respectful campus

About our speakers…

Dr. Elizabeth Holloway is a professor and psychologist with over 25 years of experience as a practitioner, trainer and consultant. She has held faculty appointments at the Universities of California, Utah, Oregon, and Wisconsin-Madison and is currently at Antioch University. Dr. Holloway has published extensively and consults for a large number of organizations.   www.elizabethholloway.com Dr. Mitchell Kusy is a professor in the Ph.D. program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University. Dr. Kusy was head of leadership development for American Express and director of organization development at Health Partners. He has written several books on leadership and also consults for a number of organizations.   www.mitchellkusy.com