Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 2012
Abstract
Institutions of higher education in the U.S. have a history of racial and sexual discrimination. The consequences for unfriendly campus climates are serious; Gurin found that students of color who experience “cool” climates are more likely to demonstrate depressed graduation rates and decreased satisfaction with university experiences (Gurin et. al. 2004). The aim of this study was to holistically assess Valparaiso University’s campus climate based on the University of Toledo’s campus climate survey. These researchers focused on comparing the results of students who self-identified as minorities – specifically Black, Latino, Asian, international, and LGBTQ students – with the results of students who did not identify as minorities. Surveys were administered via e-mail to the Valparaiso University community with an anticipated response rate of 200. Leaders of multicultural student organizations and VU professors were contacted individually to encourage students to participate. This is the first time that a campus climate survey has been completed at Valparaiso University, and this is also one of the first surveys of its kind to address multiple levels of diversity. The results offered unique insights into the experiences of all students, which were useful in addressing the current campus climate on both micro- and macro-levels.
Recommended Citation
Hudson, Nicole; and Wickstrom, Erica, "How Chilly is Valpo? A Campus Climate Survey" (2012). Celebration of Undergraduate Scholarship. Paper 152.
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Link to abstract only.