Social Climate Survey underway

A survey aimed at determining how well the University of Colorado is promoting the many forms of diversity is underway, with all faculty, staff and students encouraged to complete the brief online questionnaire.

The Social Climate Survey, which requires about 10 minutes to finish, must be accessed via a link included in emails that were sent systemwide on Wednesday. All members of the CU community are reminded to check their inboxes and take the survey.

If you believe you did not receive the survey email, please contact the regents’ office by emailing CU Board of Regents@cu.edu.

While the survey asks respondents for general identifying information, all answers are confidential and are being coordinated by an independent third-party vendor, McLaughlin and Associates, which was engaged by the Board of Regents.

This is the first systemwide survey of its type to gauge how CU faculty, staff and students welcome and foster multiple aspects of diversity. CU leaders say the data will give the university community a more complete picture of where we are succeeding and where we need to devote more effort.

Administration will share results when available and begin discussions through our ordinary governance processes about how data may be used to ensure CU provides the best educational and workplace experience possible.

Diversity is among the Board of Regents’ 12 guiding principles. It states the university commitment to, “Promote faculty, student and staff diversity to ensure the rich interchange of ideas in the pursuit of truth and learning, including diversity of political, geographic, cultural, intellectual and philosophical perspectives.”

The survey took root after the board voted unanimously last fall to gauge how well CU meets the guiding principle related to diversity. The initiative came on the heels of a change to the Laws of the Regents to protect members of the university community from discrimination. The change prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation, political philosophy, gender identity and gender expression.