News
What is the climate of our campus?
News Reporter
Not a day goes by without a new survey in your e-mail box. There have been Student Government Association elections, library surveys, self-study surveys, research surveys, health surveys and many other types of surveys on this campus. Earlier this month launched a new survey reaching out to all members of the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point campus community from students to faculty and administration. UW-SP has been chosen along with four other campuses to take part in this Campus Diversity Climate Survey.
The purpose of this survey is to look at the overall atmosphere of the campus and to look for new ways to create a safe, effective learning and working environment. The survey was developed over the past year with the help of UW System administration and is being led by Rankin & Associates, a consulting firm that focuses on assessing and improving education.
SGA Vice President, Adam Lehmann, took the survey and stated, “I felt that the survey was real long, but worth it at the same time. It is important that we accurately report our measure to properly evaluate where we stand for diversity.”
The survey takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on how detailed your answers are and asks numerous questions about your experiences at UW-SP. At the end of the survey there is a chance for participants to enter into a drawing to win a “thank you” prize ranging anywhere from gas cards to cash.
Despite all the statements that this data will be used to recognize strategies for addressing possible challenges or problems and push for a more positive environment on campus, some students remain skeptical as to if the results will change anything at UW-SP.
“This survey isn’t going to answer any questions that the University already can’t answer for itself. If international students feel like there aren’t many people in Stevens Point for them to relate to, that is because Stevens Point is not a very diverse community,” said junior Amanda Meyer. “My problem with the survey is that I can’t see what the UW-SP is going to do with the information. If I knew that, then I think that my time taking the survey would have been better spent. It didn’t pertain very much at all to people who haven’t experienced much/any issues with assault or discrimination on this campus either.”
You can see for yourself by viewing the survey at https://online.survey.psu.edu/stevenspoint/index01.htm or by clicking the link on the UW-SP main page.
Those organizing the survey at UW-SP hope to get 30 percent of the campus community involved with the Campus Diversity Climate Survey as it closes Friday, April 25. There is a possibility of the survey closure being extended to get more input. For more information and answers to all your questions, contact Anne Abbott at (715) 346-4420 or Jason Davis at (715) 346-4598.
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