University of Wisconsin
Climate Assessment
Project Overview
Julie Furst-Bowe & Meridith Wentz
Co-chairs
Inclusive Excellence Committee
January 2011
Project Background
Tier I
2007-2008
UW-La Crosse
UWMilwaukee
UW-Colleges
UW-Oshkosh
UW-Stevens
Point
Tier II
2008-2009
UW-Eau Claire
UW-Parkside
UW-River Falls
UW-Whitewater
Tier III
2010-2011
UW-Green Bay
UW-Madison
UW-Platteville
UW-Stout
UW-Superior
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 employees
To 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 them
Participating institutions will use the results of the
assessment to inform on-going work regarding diversity
Assessing Campus Climate
• Campus Climate is a construct
What is it?
• Current attitudes, behaviors, standards and
practices of employees and students of an
institution
Definition?
• Personal Experiences
• Perceptions
How is it
measured? • Institutional Efforts
Rankin & Reason, 2008
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