Inside Iowa State

October 8, 2004

Summary of campus 'climate' survey to be shared at forum

by Anne Krapfl

The campus community is invited to participate in a public forum Oct. 14 at which a consultant will present her findings on the campus climate survey conducted during spring semester. Susan Rankin of Rankin & Associates, Howard, Penn., will lead the forum from 3 to 5 p.m. in 2050 Agronomy. Her work assessed the ISU "climate" regarding inclusion or exclusion of minority groups, harassment and discrimination.

Rankin presented preliminary results in early September to university administrators. During her visit to campus, her plan is also to meet with representatives of some under-represented groups who participated in the survey to let them know how she organized their information. The Oct. 14 forum will be the first public presentation of the survey results.

Rankin's final report is due at the end of October. Carla Espinoza, associate vice president for human resource services and a co-chair of the President's Advisory Committee on Diversity, said the final report will be posted online and several hard copies will be available at Parks Library.

"Our feeling is, let's put it all out there for the community to read," Espinoza said. "Maybe the information won't feel comfortable, but change isn't comfortable and it can guide change."

The survey was done at the recommendation of the advisory committee and paid for by the president's office.

Spring survey

Approximately 8,300 faculty, staff and students were contacted last February to participate in an online survey; about 1,930 respondents completed the 64-question survey. The sample population included an over-sampling of under-represented populations, random sampling of majority populations and "snowball" sampling of invisible minority populations, such as persons with learning disabilities or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Snowball sampling involves word-of-mouth communication, with the intent of over-sampling a group.

The survey asked for information about respondents' personal experiences regarding campus climate issues, perceptions of the climate for under-represented members of the ISU community, and perceptions of "institutional actions," such as policies or academic initiatives intended to address concerns about the campus climate.

In her September remarks to campus groups, Rankin said her findings indicate Iowa State is not very different from other universities. For example, while the situation seems to have improved in recent years, she said many respondents noted specific ways in which men and women are treated inequitably.

A second key issue, according to survey results, is a climate that values homogeneity and in which individuals of other races and ethnicities "feel they can't be themselves" without encountering discrimination or harassment. Rather, they felt they should speak English and "behave like white, middle-class persons," Rankin said.

What's next

Rankin's final report will recommend changes to enhance the climate. The President's Advisory Committee on Diversity, whose membership changed this fall, will develop and oversee a campus master plan for diversity. That plan will include smaller planning committees and an implementation committee. The small groups will be appointed this winter to address specific components of that plan. The implementation committee will prioritize and coordinate the groups' work. Details of this structure will be announced soon after Rankin's final report is released.

The survey asked for information about respondents' personal experiences regarding campus climate issues, perceptions of the climate for under-represented members of the ISU community, and perceptions of "institutional actions," such as policies or academic initiatives intended to address concerns about the campus climate.