NC State conducts a campus climate survey every five years as we continuously seek to develop and improve a positive, welcoming culture.

The 2019 Campus Climate Survey covered topics such as satisfaction with various aspects of being an NC State student, interactions with others on campus, participation in multicultural activities and perceptions about the role of higher education.

Even further, the survey asked participants to “reflect on experiences that have shaped their attitudes about diversity, and for their perceptions of how supportive the campus environment is for diversity in general and for traditionally underrepresented groups in particular.”

• Results: 2019 Campus Climate Survey

In recent years, campus climate surveys have become widespread, occurring at most large universities. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice published “Best Practices: Campus Climate Surveys” to help guide institutions in their creation and administration following the recommendation of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault in 2014. Further, many institutions have conducted climate surveys following negatively-charged campus events.

In addition, as NC State prepares to undertake a new strategic planning process, input from this assessment will be key in shaping the initiatives and direction of university programs, resources and initiatives for years to come.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) cites the assessment of campus climate as a key part of the successful academic environment and as one component of developing personal and social responsibility among students. “Although there is little empirical evidence to connect campus climate directly to students’ learning and developmental outcomes—or, more specifically, to the development of personal and social responsibility—the existing research strongly suggests that campus climate can support or impede student outcomes,” writes educator Robert D. Reason.

Concluding that a positive campus climate supports academic outcomes in addition to attracting and retaining students, the AAC&U supports periodic climate assessments as an important means of understanding student perceptions and experiences.