We are conducting research on campus climate and activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The goals of the study are to:

• Understand the climate for students at UCSC, especially with respect to race/ethnicity, gender, and attitudes toward diversity
• Understand the impact of climate on academic success
• Understand the influence of diversity initiatives and CITL programs on perceptions of climate and academic success
• Identify potential areas of need for future climate initiatives

This study has been approved by the UCSC Institutional Review Board under protocol number HS3060 “Campus Climate Activities”. If you have questions, you may contact the researcher Dr. Christy Byrd at cmbyrd@ucsc.edu.

What is campus climate and why study it?

Campus climate is defined as “the cumulative attitudes, behaviors, and standards of employees and students concerning access for, inclusion of, and level of respect for individual and group needs, abilities, and potential” (Rankin, 2005). A more positive campus climate is related to higher satisfaction and greater persistence, as well as feelings of belonging, especially for students from marginalized groups. Furthermore, when students have the opportunity to have meaningful interactions with diverse peers, they have more positive attitudes toward diversity, better interpersonal skills, and better critical thinking skills. In this study our goal is to understand how the climate operates at UCSC.

What is involved in the study?

The study has three parts:

• Part 1: We will assess what students learn from courses, activities, and programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Part 2: We will examine student perceptions of the courses of instructors who participate in Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning (CITL) workshops and programs
• Part 3: We will survey students in Stevenson College on their perceptions of campus climate and their academic success

Importantly, we will combine data from all three parts to understand how students move through campus programs and what programs are having what types of effects on student outcomes. Participants will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

Why am I being contacted?

You are being contacted because you are either 1) the leader of an activity, program, or course related to diversity, equity, or inclusion OR because 2) you are a student in one of those activities, in a class with an instructor involved in a CITL program, OR 3) you are a student in Stevenson College.

What kind of data are you looking for?

We are primarily looking for responses to our surveys. We will send 1-minute surveys to participants in Part 1 and 2, and a 20-minute survey to all Stevenson students. You can view the contents of each survey at this link: Link to Surveys. You do not have to respond to any survey question that you do not want to. Secondarily, we are looking for activity leaders and instructors to provide additional information that will help us understand the goals of the activity. This information can include goal statements, syllabi, and other evaluations they collect.

How will you protect my information?

All data will be sent through secure channels and will only be accessible by the research team. At the end of the study, we plan to replace every name with a generated ID number and then destroy any documents that contain names.

Where and how will the data be shared?

We will compile reports of the data and share them with campus administrators, the campus community, and the research community. None of our reports will contain identifiable information.

How can I get more information?

Email Christy Byrd at cmbyrd@ucsc.edu.