University gains valuable feedback through employee Campus Climate Survey

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

The results from the fall 2020 campus climate survey are in. The data was generated from over 2,600 employee responses to a variety of questions related to inclusivity on campus. 

Nine categories were explored, including: 1. Inclusion/Support, 2. Belonging, 3. Working with Others, 4. Experience at OSU, 5. Concern, 6. D-Course Issues, 7. Improvement, 8. Discussion with Others, and 9. Equity. Each section explored whether there were significant differences among each of the following demographic variables: Disability, Ethnicity, Campus Affiliation, College Affiliation, Employee Type, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Marital Status, and Race. Key findings from the report indicate an overall positive sentiment. 

Top 10 positively rated items:

• In the workplace at OSU, I am able to work with peers with backgrounds and cultures different from my own. (92.9% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• At OSU, I am able to work well with my peers in the workplace. (91.6% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• I believe that meaningful interactions with individuals different from me is an essential part of my workplace experience/atmosphere at OSU. (90.3% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• At OSU, I am personally treated with respect by students. (88.8% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• At OSU, I am personally treated with respect by peers. (88.4% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• It is important for OSU’s leaders to talk about racial and ethnic issues to help work through and solve the problems. (87.1% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• There is a fellow employee at OSU that I feel comfortable turning to if I need support. (86.8% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• I feel a sense of belonging to OSU. (78.6% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• I feel a sense of belonging to my own faculty/staff organizations (departmental unit, committees, councils, etc.) at OSU. (78.5% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• My experience at OSU has provided me with the opportunities necessary for me to grow in my ability to work with individuals with backgrounds and cultures different from my own. (78.2% Strongly Agree/Agree)

Bottom five positively rated items:

• I feel the quality of the ‘D’ course(s) at OSU is/are solid and that the course(s) include adequate information and knowledge for students. (50.8% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• All members of the college community at OSU are treated equitably regardless of nationality. (50.7% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• All members of the college community at OSU are treated equitably regardless of ethnic background. (49.6% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• All members of the college community at OSU are treated equitably regardless of gender. (48.1% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• I participate in OSU campus events often. (46.5% Strongly Agree/Agree)

Top five negatively rated items:

• At OSU, I feel that I personally have experienced being ignored. (32.0% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• All members of the college community at OSU are treated equitably regardless of gender. (28.1% Strongly Disagree/Disagree)
• I hesitate to talk about issues of diversity at OSU because of the fear of offending others. (25.1% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• At OSU, I feel that I personally have experienced exclusion/isolation. (24.8% Strongly Agree/Agree)
• I participate in OSU campus events often. (23.2% Strongly Disagree/Disagree)

“This feedback is extremely helpful as our task force continues to examine issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion on our campus,” said Dr. Leon McClinton. “While the initial results were encouraging overall, the survey does point out we always have work to do on this subject.”

According to the executive summary, which highlights significant statistical deviations for specific groups, participants who identified as cisgender had a higher rank on on the following factors than participants who identified as transgender: Inclusion/support, experience at OSU, belonging, working with others, discussion with others, and equity.

Participants with a reported disability responded lower than non-disability participants on their “experience at OSU.” They responded higher on the survey item “At OSU, I feel that I personally have experienced exclusion/isolation.”

“The responses from certain employee groups based on gender or disability, for example, are not totally surprising,” said Dr. Jeanette Mendez. “University leadership is committed to the values that everyone in our campus community feels included — we are working hard to help ensure no one is overlooked in this effort.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Monica Roberts |Director of Media Relations | 405-744-4800 | monica.roberts@okstate.edu