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January, 2003
Campus Climate Network Group
The Campus Climate Network Group, chaired by Provost Peter Spear,
began the fall semester by asking, "If we want to improve campus climate, how
can we as a campus go about doing it?" Five key activities were identified: Listen
and Assess Progress, Take Leadership, Provide Training and Development Opportunities,
Develop Concrete Programs and Efforts, and Provide Information /Communicate. Work
groups were established to evaluate what has already been done and identify what needs
to happen next. Final reports from the work groups, including specific recommendations,
were presented at the December 12 meeting of the CCNG.
There is no simple definition of campus climate. The following two
definitions, provided by the Campus Climate Network Group and the Committee on Women
in the University's Work Group on Climate, apply to a broad range of behaviors and
circumstances that give rise to climate-related initiatives.
Campus Climate: Behaviors within a workplace or learning environment,
ranging from subtle to cumulative to dramatic, that can influence whether an individual
feels personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated fairly and with respect. Campus
Climate Network Group (2002).
Climate: The atmosphere or ambience of an organization as perceived
by its members. An organization's climate is reflected in its structures, policies,
and practices; the demographics of its membership; the attitudes and values of its
members and leaders; and the quality of personal interactions. Committee on Women
in the University's Work Group on Climate (Summer, 2002).
The CCNG endorsed a number of climate and climate-related activities
and action items at the December 12, 2003 meeting. The endorsed activities and actions,
briefly described below, are outlined in greater detail in the attachments to this
document. Provost Spear and members of the Provost's staff will work with individuals,
existing campus committees and organizations, and other campus administrative offices
to advance these activities.
Listen and Assess Progress
It is important to provide opportunities for all members of the campus community to
define what campus climate means, describe how campus climate is experienced on this
particular campus, and participate in the creation of initiatives that are intended
to improve the campus climate. One important element related to this process is conducting
assessments to help us gauge where we have made progress and where we need to further
channel our energies.
The Listening Sessions Work Group developed a list of listening opportunities.
The list includes one-time events, on-going activities, and new listening opportunities.
One new initiative is a proposed campus-wide "Day/Week of Listening and Learning."
Assessment can take different forms. In the area of campus climate,
there is a great deal of surveying underway or planned. It will be important to share
information and coordinate these activities, whenever possible, in order to maximize
the use of existing or new data and minimize duplication of effort.
CCN Work Group Point Person: Eden
Inoway-Ronnie.
Take Leadership
Efforts at all levels to improve the climate are important. In addition, it is vital
to have effective leaders who can influence workplace and classroom climates through
their words and actions.
The Leadership Work Group developed a list of behaviors for improving
climate for campus leaders (see Tools for Effective Leaders).
This document could be used as a part of training and development opportunities for
people at all levels. Campus leaders must reinforce the importance of developing a
positive campus climate, so that everyone becomes more conscious of how their behaviors
affect others.
CCN Work Group Point Person: Jeff
Hamm
Provide Training andDevelopment Opportunities
It is important to provide training for campus leaders at all levels. In addition,
it is important that there are training and learning opportunities about climate issues
for all campus faculty, staff, and students.
The Climate Training Work Group identified existing climate training
opportunities, assessed the need for additional opportunities, and proposed additional
training and development activities (See Climate-Related
Workshops list - PDF). Staff in the Provost's Office will work with other campus
organizations to develop training workshops for campus leaders at all levels, and
disseminate information about workshops already under development or in existence.
CCN Work Group Point Person: Linda
Greene
Develop Concrete Programs and Efforts
The breadth of initiatives that address campus climate evidences an awareness of the
importance of this issue. The Concrete Programs & Efforts Work Group identified
existing or planned efforts to address campus climate, primarily focusing on efforts
that are coordinated centrally. This work group also focused on identifying useful
tools and approaches to improve climate.
The Inventory of Climate and Climate-related Initiatives is now available on the web.
CCN Work Group Point Person: Maury
Cotter.
Provide Information/Communicate
There is an on-going need to coordinate and update information on the activities initiated
by various climate and climate-related committees and groups. University Communications,
in collaboration with the Offices of the Chancellor, Provost, and Vice Chancellor
for Student Affairs, developed a communication strategy for campus climate and climate-related
activities. The plan includes multiple venues for dissemination (including a website),
plans to assess and track progress, and the generation of a Campus Climate Report.
The communication strategy will be multi-layered, and will demonstrate
a reflective viewpoint that acknowledges different perspectives on the issue. It will
provide a context and framework for new climate activities, such as the proposed Day/Week
of Listening & Learning. It also will provide information about the wide range
of climate-related activities initiated by student organizations; school, college,
and other administrative units; and other committees across campus.
Campus Contact People: Amy Toburen,
Casey Nagy, Eden
Inoway-Ronnie, Patrick Strickler, Ruby
Paredes.
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