Campus Climate Assessment on Diversity Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion

What is a Diversity Audit? According to Williams (2013), an institution must conduct a comprehensive diversity audit to achieve goals related to strategic planning and assessing the campus climate for diversity. The diversity audit assesses “institutional history, demographics, current offices, policies, initiatives, and priorities as they relate to diversity.”

Purpose of ASC Diversity Audit To meet the objectives of the college’s 2020 Strategic Plan, Leading in a Global Society:  Agnes Scott Reinvents the Liberal Arts for the 21st Century. To document the stories of diverse groups of individuals within the Agnes Scott community (e.g. students, alumnae, faculty, staff, etc.). To provide an evidence-based study of the campus climate assessment for diversity and identify key strategies for future diversity and inclusion efforts. To create a campus diversity action plan that is focused on inclusive excellence.

Goals of Today’s Discussion Clearly articulate the purpose of an institutional “Campus Climate Assessment for Diversity” also known as the “diversity audit” for Agnes Scott. Review different types of research methods and how they can be used to assess the campus climate for diversity. Obtain feedback on the early stages of the data collection plan of the diversity audit.

Inclusive Excellence The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) identifies four components of inclusive excellence: A focus on student intellectual and social development. A purposeful development and utilization of organizational resources to enhance student learning. Attention to the cultural differences learners bring to the educational experience and that enhance the enterprise.  A welcoming community that engages all of its diversity in the service of student and organizational learning.

Key Assumptions Inclusive excellence is our barometer of measurement and conceptual framework. Every member of the campus community values the goals of inclusive excellence. Each member of the campus community recognizes their responsibility as a key stakeholder in the diversity audit process.

Important Steps Develop clearly articulated goals for assessing diversity at our institution. Vet the diversity audit (data collection) plan through key constituents. Determine data sources and who will collect them. It is important to work with any internal assessment or institutional research teams.

DATA COLLECTION & STUDY DESIGN

The Diversity Research Team & Task Force Diversity Research Team: A small team of individuals comprised of the College’s Chief Diversity Officer, the Director of Institutional Diversity and Inclusive Education, external consultants, volunteers from the Agnes Scott faculty, staff and students are conducting a diversity study throughout the academic year 2017-2018. Taskforce: A group comprised of faculty, staff, and students will work in tandem with the diversity research team to provide insight, feedback, and vet relevant materials. During this period, we will focus on working in consultation with various constituencies based upon feedback from the preliminary study design and data collection plan. The second phase of the project will take place between 2018-2020. A taskforce will make recommendations for ongoing data collection efforts and the creation of a diversity action plan that is consistent with the benchmarks outlined in Leading in a Global Society, the strategic plan of the college for 2020.

Key Research Questions What is our campus climate for diversity? Are we an inclusive community? How do we define what it means for Agnes Scott? Does our institution demonstrate our commitment to inclusive excellence? How are our policies, procedures and programs consistent with the values of the institutional mission of Agnes Scott?

Narrative Literature Review A comprehensive review of literature including articles, reports, gray/fugitive literature and key documents published over the last five to seven years to explore various diversity inventories conducted at colleges and universities around the nation. A specific focus on Agnes Scott’s prior data collection efforts, reports and summaries related to diversity and inclusion. (Example: “The Spence Report,” student testimonials, SPARC presentations, faculty presentations, etc.

Environmental Scan A focus on all print and web-based materials developed by Agnes Scott to determine what types of diversity initiatives and intercultural activities are already in place (Example: policies, syllabi, campus programs, etc.). The information will be entered into a database which will allow us to create a virtual library of all material identified and collected.

Sample Keywords - Environmental Scan Inclusion Language Political Diversity Multicultural Race Religion Sexual Identity Sexual Orientation Socioeconomic Backgrounds Cultural Programs Culture Disability Diversity Diverse Ethnicity Gender Identities Intercultural These are just some of the keywords that we have identified in the search.

Building Mapping The diversity research team will conduct visits to various departments throughout campus to assess the climate for diversity and inclusion using observation and field notes. The purpose of the activities will be to gather information on the ways that diversity is represented visually throughout the institution in physical spaces. Sample Questions: Are there pictures in this building? What visual representations are evident in the photos? What types of bathrooms are in this building?

Key Informative Interviews Data collection efforts will include interviews conducted with various key stakeholders on campus including participants from the following list of individuals: Alumnae and Board of Trustees Cabinet Members Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC) Department Chairs and Directors Volunteers from faculty, staff, alumnae and students

Student Focus Groups The diversity research team will conduct focus groups with groups of 8-10 students in each group. The groups will be recruited widely throughout our campus community. All students will be invited to participate through a series of campus communication efforts.

Faculty and Staff Focus Groups The diversity research team will conduct focus groups with faculty and staff. Faculty Staff Groups comprised of 8-10 faculty. 8-10 staff.

Site Visits The diversity research team will visit various departments throughout campus to assess the climate for diversity and inclusion using observation and field notes. The purpose of these activities will be to gather information on the ways that diversity is represented visually throughout the institution in physical spaces. This data collection effort is an important component to compare with the “building mapping” from student volunteers in the larger study.

Surveys The diversity research team will work with the Office of Institutional Research to identify surveys that may provide us with information on faculty and student experiences as they relate to diversity (i.e. HERI, NSSE, Student Satisfaction Survey, etc.). The diversity research team will work with the Task Force and the Office of Institutional Research to determine whether a new instrument will need to be developed to survey alumnae, faculty, staff, and students in the future.

Timeline Review of Existing Resources – Fall 2016-Summer 2017 Establishment of a Research Team & Task Force– Fall 2017 Benchmarking Assessment/Diversity Inventory – Fall 2017 IRB Approval – Fall 2017 Begin early data collection efforts – Qualitative (e.g. Focus groups, interviews, building mapping, etc.) –Spring 2018 Initial Draft of Results Shared with Cabinet & Task Force– Spring 2018 Report Shared with Cabinet & Task Force – May 2018 Campuswide Communication – June 2018 Determination of Next Steps – July 2018 Development of a Strategic Diversity Action Plan 2018-2020

The Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion Kijua Sanders-McMurtry Associate Vice President and Dean for Community Diversity Kristian Contreras Director for Institutional Diversity and Inclusive Education Miriam Panton Administrative Assistant Diversity Coordinators Summer Bosley’18 Jennifer Figueroa’20 Jordan Keesler’19 Madelyn Kent’18 Syedha Noreenia’19 Iman Ramadan’19 Acacia Salisbury’19