Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
9-2013
Keywords
diversity and inclusion, campus life, campus climate assessment, surveys
Disciplines
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Higher Education | Higher Education Administration
Abstract
The University of Massachusetts Boston is dedicated to fostering a caring university community that provides leadership for constructive participation in a diverse, multicultural world. The University has a long history of supporting initiatives that foster an inclusive living, learning, and working environment. The University’s mission statement offers the commitment of the institution to supporting an inclusive environment. The University also includes diversity and inclusion among its seven core values indicating its importance.
UMass Boston’s long term commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in the curriculum, in research, and in the commitment to community engagement and participation. As an example, UMass Boston initiated a diversity general education requirement supporting the belief that “the explicit study of the diversity of the world’s peoples is an essential component of an undergraduate education”.
The commitment to diversity and inclusion is also manifested in the broad array of Centers and Institutes, and student support services offered by the University.
The implementation of the campus climate assessment is further evidence of UMass Boston’s commitment to ensuring that all members of the community live in an environment that nurtures a culture of inclusiveness and respect. The primary purpose of the project was to conduct a campus-wide assessment to gather data related to institutional climate, inclusion, and work-life issues in order to examine the learning, living, and working environments at the University for students, faculty, and staff. The study includes two major phases: 1) data gathering from a population survey informed by extensive campus community input; and 2) the development of strategic initiatives by the University to build on institutional successes, address institutional climate challenges and promote institutional quality. This is the first ever such climate assessment at the University, and will provide information that will assist the University in achieving its strategic planning goals.
This report provides an overview of the results of the campus-wide survey. The report only offers the results from UMass Boston and does not include comparisons to other institutions. Qualitative comments offered by participants are provided throughout the narrative. These comments are in response to specific quantitative questions and are offered to provide “voice” to the data. Appendix A contains the commentary offered by respondents for the last two open-ended questions that were not linked to any particular quantitative question. A summary of the findings is presented in bullet form below.
Recommended Citation
Rankin & Associates, Consulting, "University of Massachusetts Boston: Campus Climate Project Final Report, September 2013" (2013). Office of Diversity and Inclusion Publications. 1.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/odi_pubs/1
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons
Comments
The project was commissioned by Chancellor J. Keith Motley through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Climate Study Working Group (CSWG) was charged to assess the climate and identify successes and potential areas for improvement. To minimize internal bias, the University contracted with Rankin & Associates (R&A) to facilitate the project.
Appendices A, B, and C are available below, under additional files.