Rankin & Associates Consulting
Wisconsin System Climate Assessment Project
UW-Stout Final Report - July 2011
Appendix A
UW-Stout
Comments Analysis
Out of the 1,877 surveys received from the UW-Stout climate assessment, many
respondents contributed remarks to the open-ended questions throughout the survey. No
respondents answered all open-ended questions. As the first several items were follow-up
questions that allowed respondents to provide more detail about their answers to a
previous question, the comments provided for those several items were included in the
body of the UW-Stout full report. This section of the report summarizes the comments 1
submitted for the last seven survey questions, and provides examples of those remarks
echoed by several respondents.
Suggestions to Improve the Climate
Approximately 450 respondents offered suggestions for how to improve the climate at
UW-Stout. Several individuals thought the climate at UW-Stout was very welcoming and
needed no improvement. Others warned that diversity initiatives might thwart the welfare
of “White, Christian,” majority members on campus. Additionally, they felt that UWStout ought to value all faculty and staff for the work they do by compensating
employees at market levels, and by fostering a climate of respect and appreciation from
supervisors, administrators, and co-workers. A number of respondents mentioned
difficulties on campus experienced by certain constituents (including women employees
and students, underrepresented employees and students, LGBTQ employees and students,
non-Christians, and Christians) and ways to improve their experiences. Respondents also
requested that UW-Stout make established policies and procedures more transparent and
consistently adhere to those policies. Specific, and representative, comments included:
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This report provides respondents’ verbatim comments.
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Hiring a strong person in the Assistant Vice Chancellor's position for Diversity in
the Provost's office; developing a consistent/persistent, clear and visible diversity
message and advertising it across campus (like the smoking campaign); setting
clear and well-communicated expectations for staff and students; swiftly dealing
with violations of these expectations; hiring a full-time LGBTQ person on
campus.
Openness in resource allocation decisions so that there is not a perception that
some are excluded based upon their field of study / gender / ethnicity. More
transparency.
The UW system needs to be inclusive, respectful and fair to the diverse
populations is serves. However, there should not be hiring quotas for minority
groups. Hiring should be based on qualifications, requirements of the position
and skills and should not be based on the color of someone's skin. Inclusive
excellence is a wonderful thought as long as it is conducted in moderation.
Meaning, everyone should be taken into consideration and not just the minority.
I support diversity and inclusion, but I'm really, really, REALLY tired of being
hammered for the circumstances of my birth as a "majority" by people with a high
level of liberal white guilt. I want to do the right thing, but constantly having it
thrust at me and implying I'm too stupid to figure it out and I have to be "trained"
how to behave is just too patronizing for words. Get off my back.
Annually, at an all-faculty/staff event, have an engaging speaker who briefly
addresses some aspect of diversity. Hold more diversity-promoting events. Bring
people from different backgrounds together and promote their cooperation on
projects.
Gender issues and violence needs to be addressed formally at Stout. Sexual
assault and harassment of female students should be given more attention.
We need to address bullying behavior that is exhibited within departments and is
evident in evaluation, promotion, application for advancement, access to
professional development funds. It exists. We have decision makers (men) without
terminal degrees that do not allow women with terminal degrees, experience and
above average performances access to advancement.
Require diversity awareness classes for all incoming freshmen.
Have a well advertised cultural week.
Develop a coherent curriculum through which all students and faculty are able to
experience diversity issues and have the opportunity to develop critical
consciousness about the needs of an equitable, inclusive, democratic society.
Required diversity information session during orientation.
Training of and feedback to deans and department chairs regarding how their
leadership style can positively and/or negatively influence department and
program climate; incorporate this feedback into their performance evaluations.
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Stop trying to promote sinful behavior (like homosexuality) as something healthy
for our young people. Stop restricting free speech of those who love others
enough to tell them the real truth. Stop portraying Christians as people who
"hate".
The Christian bias of the campus is incredibly frustrating. Campus Crusade and
the other groups allowed to hand out bibles on street corners, where as I can
barely say what religion I am without being ridiculed, is frustrating and
somewhat angering.
Incorporating diversity information into a daily routine. Instead of having events
that people go to, somehow submerge students in these events on a daily basis.
Then everyone would be exposed instead of just those that go to the events.
Our administration does not understand that American minorities have a
drastically different experience than a person of privilege from another country.
In addition, the fact that faculty who research and promote diversity are
constantly excluded from these committees speaks volumes. Again, the committee
membership for this survey is a prime example: administrators but no faculty. We
all volunteered; we were all refused. Our Diversity Council was taken over by a
top-down manager and is now defunct. Admin hired a Diversity Vice-Chancellor
without an open search and against our efforts to promote skilled mediators.
Admin constantly states that we are a data-driven campus. …
I think making the LGBT program coordinator position full time would make her
more Available to Staff and Students. She and her staff are stretches thin on their
current employment status.
Respect and equitable treatment for academic staff and adjuncts on single-year
contracts must start with a better attitude towards the value and necessity of these
positions.
People are people, we are going to hate and hold stereotypes, sometimes we say
and do nice things, and other time we do mean things and say hurtful words. It is
in our human nature. If we could all just get along, we would have done so by
now.
One issue I see as a Native American is the fact UW-Stout allows the Menomonie
"Indians" to play and use our facilities. The Chancellor talks about the alcohol
problem and how Stout needs to be open to all ethnic groups while it clearly
supports a team who shows no respect for the Native American Ethnicity. I find
this to be rather ignorant.
Establishing a small movie theatre (or using existing one) where documentaries
on some of the aforementioned issues, in addition to international movies are
showing.
For the first two weeks of class, professors expected that I had money to buy
materials needed for class IMMEDIATELY. I have to wait for my financial aid
refund, so I have no money to use until I get it. I was not able to join a class
because I couldn't afford the necessary materials RIGHT AWAY. This is bull shit.
I thought Stout was an equal opportunity for the rich and poor.
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Use this survey! Listen to the people who deal with this school every day, not the
people who sit in the administration building and don't have a clue about what
goes on this campus. When rules are put in place that Faculty members agree
with they will respect and enforce them. When nonsense programs and rules are
put into effect, faculty won't jump on board and that will trickle down through the
students and money and time will have been wasted on something that won't make
a difference.
Campus Experiences versus Community Experiences
One of the open-ended items queried, “Are your experiences on campus different than
those you experience in the community surrounding campus? If so, how are these
experiences different?” Five hundred thirteen (513) people answered the question.
Several people said they did not spend much time on campus and, therefore, had no
reference to answer the question. Other respondents said their experiences were the same
on and off campus. A few of the respondents said they had more positive experiences in
Menomonie than on the UW-Stout campus, citing a friendlier atmosphere among local
residents. Respondents who had different experiences on and off campus noted that UWStout was more inclusive of and welcoming to people from underrepresented groups.
Some of their comments included:
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Campus is more diverse and inclusive than the community.
The town can still be very socially conservative, and the university is a force for
change in that it has a positive effect.
Not really, Stout is very much like Menomonie. There is a small town, nonprogressive attitude in both.
The upper mid-west does not have a lot of diversity in general. When we have to
interact with people who are different than us, there is always a bit of a learning
curve. In general, I think we are pretty good at adapting and learning about those
who are different than us.
Off campus a friend of mine was jumped and beaten by local individuals for
talking to people of non Caucasian decent. This happened last semester.
The community is unwelcoming to students in general, so I tend to avoid the so
called "townies" at all expense.
My experiences off campus are fine; I love our community. I also love Stout but I
feel Stout could be more involved in the community.
The campus seems much more inclusive regarding LGBTQ persons than the
surrounding community. I wish Menomonie was more progressive.
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Menomonie and the surrounding area is culturally diverse. People live in relative
peace; there are no hate crimes or racial gang activities around here. My
experience in the community is that people are "colorblind"- that is, race is no
longer an issue at all. On stout's campus, it is clearly still a huge issue.
No, I hear the same concerns from other staff members.
Yes. I grew up in this town and I know that it's only somewhat welcoming for
people that aren't white and straight. I think that the campus is at least marginally
more inclusive because there are people here from more diverse places and there
are events that make students more aware of that fact that differences are okay.
I think the Menomonie community is somewhat closed to Stout faculty, staff and
students due to Menomonie's rural and small town nature. I think for minority
students/staff/faculty who are easily identified with a specific minority group it
can be especially difficult to interact with community members. I think acceptance
for minority people has improved over the years, but at a slower rate for the
Menomonie community than on campus.
I think campus is much more accepting of different cultures and ethnic
backgrounds than the surrounding community. I would say that the surrounding
community is more accepting of people of a low socioeconomic status than
campus.
Additional Thoughts on Campus Climate
The last of the open-ended items (Question 86) allowed respondents to elaborate on any
of their survey responses, further describe their experiences, or offer additional thoughts
about climate issues. About 230 people offered additional comments regarding their
experiences and opinions. Some respondents reiterated their satisfaction with UW-Stout.
Others offered specific examples of discrimination or areas in which the University ought
to focus attention. Several people were dismayed that UW-Stout does not enforce the
recent ban on on-campus smoking. More than a few people mentioned inequities and
tensions instigated by a sense of institutional classism (i.e., the “hierarchy” of employee
positions). A number of respondents agreed that the campus can seem “unfriendly” and
“formal,” because of both the recent influx of technology and the culture of the area. To
that end, respondents suggested that although Menomonie’s community is generally
White and Christian, UW-Stout attracts people from a diverse array of backgrounds.
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I would just ask for the Senior Administration to be clear across the board. Don't
say we need to accept people's sexuality and be tolerant while a high school
football team is playing on our field mimicking Native American culture.
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There is an unspoken hierarchy that exists on campus. Classified employees and
unclassified academic staff are made to feel as lower level people than
unclassified faculty and administration. They are not as appreciated and often
have to live life on a year to year basis regardless of their ratings and
accomplishments.
I think this is a diverse campus and is welcoming, but promotion and tenure,
committee work and administration is still led by mostly white males.
If Stout is smoke free..... ENFORCE IT! It’s such a joke because people still
smoke outside dorms and buildings.
I have found this campus to be very formal and it can appear to visitors that we
are unfriendly. Even within the building it is rare that employees greet each other.
I think students, faculty, and staff at Stout don't always recognize diversity among
people. In some ways, we are very open as a campus, but in other ways, I wonder
how "welcoming" we are, as much of the population is still from the region and
white. We need to keep educating people about our difference and ways to be
accepting of others.
I think UW Stout has a good mix of people who are different; however, I think we
could be recruiting even more students from different SES, races, and ethnicities.
The majority of the population appears to be Caucasian, middle class, and from
rural areas. Changing these demographics to incorporate more diversity would
be beneficial to all who attend.
…I think there should be a student-accessible copy/printer in each building where
classes are held. There should be more ITS black boxes around campus,
especially in areas where students use money or their StoutOne cards, so they can
put money on their cards without having to leave a building. I think there should
be seating (benches or chairs, possibly even small work tables) in the hallways of
Harvey, Bowman and Micheels Halls. I have almost tripped over feet of students
sitting or sprawled on the floor between classes. Accidents waiting to happen,
carrying a 30 lb backpack.
I feel that there was discrimination towards me for receiving financial aid. I was
told by a stout employee "you will not receive financial aid because you are a
single white female under the age of 24. Your parents should have been saving for
college when you were younger."
Mental Health is not taken very seriously by the majority of people on campus
which is disappointing to me as someone with mental health issues.
I think the state budget and national economic situation has affected the campus
climate for all groups. With the new state legislative and executive leadership in
Wisconsin I think there are real concerns on how we in academia will be able to
provide the necessary instruction and support services that our students need to
become productive and valued citizens of the State of Wisconsin. I think
faculty/staff are becoming more and more pessimistic about how we will
accomplish this when support for Wisconsin higher education is dwindling.
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Higher level administrators and supervisors need to listen to all of their workers
more equally and value their feedback, rather than only soliciting and respecting
the feedback of a select few.
My biggest gripe is really departmental level climate issues. We have some very
unhealthy things happening in departments. Perhaps the administration (Deans
and upper admit) need to take a more active role in addressing these things.
We need to have top administrators who celebrate the success of students with
learning and physical disabilities rather than make disparaging comments
regarding how they negatively affect the image of our graduates.
UW-Stout is a very nice place to work, if you can distance yourself from some of
the "drama" that is played out between the Administration and certain Union
representatives. When a few people abuse the power and prestige of their
positions to pursue personal agendas, they can quickly sour the climate. If
Chancellor Sorenson cannot find a way to get along with WSEU, he needs to train
his department administrators to control the way that conflict is impacting staff
across campus.
We need better support for LGBTQ programs. We need to support the children
that come to our institution and need a person to turn to because gay bashing is
still commonly accepted and institutionalized.
In addition, a few respondents commented on the survey and process itself. Some
applauded the University’s participation in the study and wanted to make certain that the
results of the survey were made public and used to better UW-Stout. Several respondents
insisted that UW-Stout leadership share with its constituents the climate assessment
findings and initiatives instituted as a result.
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Thank you for doing this survey; it should be done more often!
Stop surveying us to death. While this is important--the findings will somehow not
make it back into a meaningful dialogue because there simply is not the time.
Worse yet--they will be posted on the website and slowly fade into the abyss of the
digital graveyard.
Thanks for the survey. It was put together well and I hope it is helpful.
This survey I felt was too long and redundant.
Survey needs changes to include distance and on-line students.
Many questions are irrelevant to different groups on campus (e.g. students,
faculty, staff, etc...). Different survey for different group (students, faculty,
administrators, etc...) would be more helpful for each group.
I hope I do not lose my job but if I do because of this survey then you can
conclude the problems that are on going on this campus.
I highly recommend including an NA option for the questions. I was not able to
answer questions for this reason.
Don’t use multiple choice for this type of survey it is limiting even with the
number of responses
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I liked this survey.
The need to do the survey underscores how bad it is here. You can research
forever yet it takes responsible leadership to make it work... talk is very cheap.
Thanks for keeping tabs on the campus climate with interest in improving it.
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