Campus Climate Matters

The University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee spent the summer evaluating vendors for the second iteration of the campus climate survey. The ViewFinder® Survey, produced by INSIGHT for Diversity magazine — the only trusted source for diversity and inclusion information in higher education — was ultimately selected.

Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys are designed to help colleges and universities measure and assess both their strengths and weaknesses around diversity and inclusion efforts for students, faculty, staff, and administrators. They provide insight into what shapes the experiences and perceptions of diverse individuals on campus to help institutions create an environment where everyone feels safe, welcome, valued, and respected. Climate Surveys help leaders better understand students’ and employees’ experiences, and identify strengths and areas for improvement, which can help establish a baseline and measure annual progress regarding key initiatives.

During the evaluation process, the DEI committee outlined its time frame to include modifying survey questions for the Salus community, and marketing, with survey completion beginning in late January. Utilizing an external process will provide validation, a greater sense of anonymity among participants, and the ability to benchmark with other healthcare graduate institutions.

Climate Surveys evaluate students, faculty, staff, and administrators about their

• perceptions of their institution’s climate

• perceptions of how their institution supports diversity and equity, and
• experiences with bias at their institution

CAMPUS CLIMATE MATTERS, AND HERE’S WHY

Students, staff and faculty who feel connected to and supported by their campus communities have a higher likelihood of success – in the classroom, with their patients and clients, in their personal lives and in the workplace. And, because we cherish our values of diversity, equity, inclusion and our identity as a health science professional institution with teaching, learning, and care at the pinnacle of our existence, we feel compelled to continually strive for a campus environment cultivated in cultural humility and fostering a sense of belonging for all members.

According to Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams, special assistant to the president for DEI, “understanding your campus climate is an important step toward ensuring your institution’s future success — and that of your students and employees.”

Salus is committed to ensuring all students and employees on any Salus campus have the opportunity to live, learn, and work in a supportive and equitable environment.