UCLA 'campus climate' survey shows encouraging results, areas for improvement
Initial results from an exhaustive survey of campus climate issues found that 90 percent or more of UCLA undergraduates believe UCLA has a long-standing commitment to diversity and that the university environment encourages students to have a public voice and share their ideas openly.
Nearly 7,600 UCLA undergrads — representing a 30 percent response rate, the second highest among the nearly two dozen campuses that participated — responded to the Diverse Learning Environments (DLE) Survey, assembled by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA's Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. The study was commissioned by UCLA's vice chancellor for student affairs, as laid out in the campus's Strategic Plan for Diversity.
University officials are still reviewing the surveys and expect to issue a series of reports detailing the data early next year.
Although questions related to campus climate — a term used to describe the inclusive nature of the university — have been covered in prior student surveys, the DLE is the first survey to focus exclusively on climate-related issues. The survey gathered student input in a variety of areas, including students' sense of belonging, cross-racial interaction and institutional commitment to diversity — one of UCLA's core values.
"We work hard to establish a welcoming environment for all students at UCLA, and this is an attempt to dig deeper," said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Janina Montero. "This data will show where we've been successful and also help identify specific areas where we need to improve. To do that, we'll need to work even more closely with students and student groups to understand their experiences and explore new ideas for enhancing the multicultural experience at UCLA."
Much of the data was positive, with over 80 percent of students expressing confidence in their ability to see the world from someone else's perspective and nearly 79 percent saying they had attended presentations, performances and art exhibitions on diversity. As anticipated, however, some of the results demonstrate a need for additional work.
For example, Native American students reported experiencing significantly higher rates of discrimination than other ethnic groups, while African American students were least likely to agree about UCLA's commitment to diversity.
Elsewhere, 94 percent of undergraduates believe UCLA promotes an appreciation of cultural differences, although only 48 percent reported regularly having meaningful and honest discussions about race and ethnic relations outside of class.
In an effort to further foster a welcoming environment on campus, UCLA recently established a new position, assistant dean for campus climate. The university also has extensive resources in place, including the Bruin Resource Center, which provides support and guidance for the campus community; the Community Programs Office, which supports student-initiated retention programs, as well as service and outreach projects for underrepresented communities; and the Academic Advancement Program, which promotes academic achievement and excellence through counseling, special leadership programs and collaborative learning workshops.
Nearly 7,600 UCLA undergrads — representing a 30 percent response rate, the second highest among the nearly two dozen campuses that participated — responded to the Diverse Learning Environments (DLE) Survey, assembled by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA's Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. The study was commissioned by UCLA's vice chancellor for student affairs, as laid out in the campus's Strategic Plan for Diversity.
University officials are still reviewing the surveys and expect to issue a series of reports detailing the data early next year.
Although questions related to campus climate — a term used to describe the inclusive nature of the university — have been covered in prior student surveys, the DLE is the first survey to focus exclusively on climate-related issues. The survey gathered student input in a variety of areas, including students' sense of belonging, cross-racial interaction and institutional commitment to diversity — one of UCLA's core values.
"We work hard to establish a welcoming environment for all students at UCLA, and this is an attempt to dig deeper," said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Janina Montero. "This data will show where we've been successful and also help identify specific areas where we need to improve. To do that, we'll need to work even more closely with students and student groups to understand their experiences and explore new ideas for enhancing the multicultural experience at UCLA."
Much of the data was positive, with over 80 percent of students expressing confidence in their ability to see the world from someone else's perspective and nearly 79 percent saying they had attended presentations, performances and art exhibitions on diversity. As anticipated, however, some of the results demonstrate a need for additional work.
For example, Native American students reported experiencing significantly higher rates of discrimination than other ethnic groups, while African American students were least likely to agree about UCLA's commitment to diversity.
Elsewhere, 94 percent of undergraduates believe UCLA promotes an appreciation of cultural differences, although only 48 percent reported regularly having meaningful and honest discussions about race and ethnic relations outside of class.
In an effort to further foster a welcoming environment on campus, UCLA recently established a new position, assistant dean for campus climate. The university also has extensive resources in place, including the Bruin Resource Center, which provides support and guidance for the campus community; the Community Programs Office, which supports student-initiated retention programs, as well as service and outreach projects for underrepresented communities; and the Academic Advancement Program, which promotes academic achievement and excellence through counseling, special leadership programs and collaborative learning workshops.
Preliminary results of the survey were presented to UCLA student-group leaders this week. Four other UC campuses (San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Riverside) participated in the survey, as well as Pepperdine University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Harvey Mudd College and 14 other universities.
For more news, visit the UCLA Newsroom and follow us on Twitter.