UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 13, Page D-4
November 30, 1995
Diversity
Survey to focus on employee attitudes toward diversity

     In many ways, the campus community is like a global village. Its
members represent a spectrum of races, cultures, countries,
ideologies, talents and orientations. One of the goals of the
Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity is to encourage a
welcoming environment on campus for all the individuals and groups who
enrich the University of Delaware.
     To carry out this purpose, the Campus Climate Indicators Task
Force was formed several years ago. One of the task force's projects
is a study of the campus climate related to diversity issues,
according to chairperson Karen Bauer, institutional research and
planning.
     The study will assess attitudes and behaviors related to
diversity on campus, Bauer said. The first part will be a survey,
scheduled for this spring, which will address attitudes and self-
reported behaviors and incidents in regard to people of color, women,
gay/ lesbian/bi-sexual orientation and those with physical
disabilities.
     The task force looked at diversity surveys from other colleges
and selected a University of Minnesota survey as being most
appropriate for the goals set forth by the commission. With permission
from Minnesota, the survey has been adapted for use at Delaware, Bauer
said.
     The survey will ask for information about campus experiences with
diversity attitudes and actions, attitudes and actions relative to
diversity, the University as a welcoming environment, experiences as a
member of a subgroup and how to improve the campus environment toward
appreciating diversity. One section invites comments and suggestions
from participants.
     A pilot survey will be tested this fall, and then a final draft
will be distributed this spirng to approximately 2,000 individuals on
campus.
     The second part of the project, scheduled to begin after the
diversity survey analysis is completed, is to examine records of
events that have taken place at the University related to
discrimination and harassment, Bauer said. The task force will gather
information on documented incidents related to diversity, using data
from services across campus such as Public Safety and residence life.
     Combined with the survey, this information will give a
comprehensive overview of the campus climate and direct the
commission's efforts to encourage a welcoming environment and improve
acceptance and appreciation of different groups at the University,
Bauer said.
     Serving on the task force are T. Scott Cawood, residence life;
James Davis, education; Samuel Gaertner and Robert Simons, both
psychology; Steven Peuquet, urban affairs and public policy; and
Herbert Turner, institutional research and planning.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure