UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 25, Page 3
March 21, 1996
Commission now surveying campus on diversity issues

     The Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity this
spring is surveying approximately 4,000 full-time employees and
undergraduate and graduate students on the Newark campus to assess
their experiences with and attitudes toward diversity.
     According to Karen Bauer, institutional research, the anonymous
and confidential surveys have been distributed to a stratified random
sample of full-time employees, undergraduate and graduate students on
the Newark campus.
     Orange return postcards are being distributed at the same time as
the surveys. These are to be mailed back separately to indicate only
that an individual's survey has been completed and returned; no
identification is on the survey itself. Return of the postcards will
allow Bauer to follow up with those who have not responded.
     The surveys for faculty and staff are similar to the student
surveys though there are some wording differences related to the
experiences of the two groups. Part 1 is background information; part
2 deals with campus experiences with diversity; part 3 is concerned
with attitudes and actions relative to diversity; part 4 is directed
to experiences as a member of a specific group; and the last section
deals with improving the campus environment toward appreciating
diversity, with an open-ended section for suggestions and comments.
     "This is an important survey to assess the campus climate on
issues involving racial/ethnic minorities, men and women, sexual
orientation and disabilities, and we hope that students and staff will
take a few minutes to complete the survey and return it," Bauer said.
     "It will give the University important information on diversity
issues and how campus policies and programs can be strengthened to
improve the climate on campus," she said.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure