Community and Culture Assessment FAQ
How is “campus climate” defined?
Campus climate refers to the attitudes and behaviors of the members of a campus community as well as institutional policies and procedures, which together influence the level of respect for individual needs, abilities and potential. A campus’ climate is shaped through personal experiences, perceptions and institutional efforts.
Why is a positive climate important?
Research maintains that a positive campus climate generally equates to successful outcomes for community members. Examples of successful outcomes include positive educational experiences and healthy identity development for students, productivity and sense of value for faculty and staff, and overall wellbeing for all.
Why did RISD conduct a climate assessment?
In introducing this climate assessment to the campus community in February 2023, President Williams wrote: “Since I arrived at RISD last April, I have made it a priority to learn as much as I can about how each of you experiences RISD. From the listening sessions and many other conversations we’ve held across campus in the last year, I have gained an anecdotal sense. But to ensure RISD is a place where everyone can thrive—which I believe is my charge as president to do—we need more nuanced and sophisticated data to better understand what aspects of living, working and learning at RISD are going well and in what areas we can improve.”
What did the climate assessment entail?
The climate assessment began with focus groups in spring 2023, followed by an all-campus survey that fall.
Who conducted the assessment?
Rankin Climate, LLC, which has conducted more than 250 campus climate assessment projects over the last 22 years, led this effort with input from RISD students, staff, and faculty who comprise the Climate Study Working Group.
How were survey questions developed?
The Climate Study Working Group developed the survey questions with direction and support from Rankin Climate. The group selected survey questions from Rankin Climate’s repository of tested questions and also wrote RISD-specific questions informed by the focus group results.
What was the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process for this study?
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities. It is best practice to submit a climate survey to an IRB for several reasons. First, it assures potential participants that their responses to the survey will remain confidential. Second, going through an IRB review protects the Principal Investigators (PIs) who are entrusted with analyzing and managing the data, in this case Rankin Climate and RISD’s executive director of accreditation and institutional effectiveness, Jennifer Roberts. The expectation is that the data is not shared with others, as designated in the data security plan.
Some institutions have their own IRB and those who do not, like RISD, can submit to an IRB at another institution. RISD submitted the climate survey to the University of Rhode Island Institutional Review Board.
How will you use the resulting data?
The data will be used to develop specific and measurable actions to continue to improve the campus climate at RISD. In her February 2023 email to campus about this assessment, President Williams wrote: “Your input will inform how we go forward together, not only in how we enhance and replicate programs and policies that support our community, but also in how we develop new programs and policies and implement strategies to grow inclusivity in areas where that is needed.”
Who has access to survey data?
Rankin Climate and Jennifer Roberts, RISD’s executive director of accreditation and institutional effectiveness, have access to survey data. Both Rankin Climate and Dr. Roberts are held to standards outlined in the data security plan offered in the Institutional Review Board (IRB) application.
Data security protocol includes:
- Quantitative data: Rankin Climate and RISD were not to report any group data for groups of fewer than five individuals. This is because such “small cell sizes” can be small enough to compromise confidentiality. Instead, such groups were combined or other measures were taken to eliminate any potential for demographic information to be identifiable.
- Qualitative data: Any comments submitted in response to the survey were separated at the time of their submission to Rankin Climate so that they were not attributed to any individual demographic characteristics. Identifiable information submitted within qualitative comments was redacted.
What is the target response rate?
Our hope was for every student, faculty member, and staff member will participate. Every response matters and is valuable in providing the most beneficial feedback and results.
Was the survey anonymous?
Yes. Confidentiality is vital to the success of campus climate research, particularly as sensitive and personal topics are discussed. While the survey cannot guarantee complete confidentiality because of the nature of multiple demographic questions, Rankin Climate took multiple precautionary measures to enhance individual confidentiality and the de-identification of data.
No data already protected through regulation or policy (e.g., Social Security number, campus identification number, medical information) was obtained through the survey. No personally identifiable information was or will be shared in any publication or presentation resulting from the assessment.
Participation in the survey was completely voluntary, and participants could choose which questions they wanted to answer. The survey was offered digitally and via paper and pencil.
Information in the introductory section of the survey further described the manner in which confidentiality was guaranteed.
What steps were taken to ensure confidentiality?
Confidentiality is vital to the success of campus climate research, particularly when sensitive and/or personal topics are part of the discussion. While the survey cannot guarantee complete confidentiality given that we gathered data on multiple demographic questions, Rankin Climate took multiple precautionary measures to enhance individual confidentiality and the de-identification of data. Among them:
- Data already protected per regulation or policy (e.g., social security number, campus ID number, medical information) was not obtained through the survey.
- No personally identifiable information will be shared via any publication or presentation emerging from the assessment.
Confidential participation was maintained to the highest degree permitted by the technology we utilize in the survey. (For instance, IP addresses were not recorded.) Rankin Climate and RISD did not report any data for groups fewer than five individuals, because such “small cell sizes” can compromise confidentiality. Instead, we combined data from the groups or took other measures to eliminate any potential for demographic information to be identifiable.
Additionally, any comments submitted in response to the survey were separated at the time of submission to Rankin Climate so that they were not attributable to any individual demographic characteristics. Identifiable information submitted in qualitative comments was redacted.
Participation in the survey was completely voluntary. Participants could skip any question they wish. Information in the introductory section of the survey described the manner in which confidentiality was guaranteed. Additional communication to participants provided expanded information on the nature of confidentiality, possible threats to confidentiality and procedures developed to ensure de-identification of data.
Did we offer the survey in multiple languages?
Rankin Climate partnered with the working group to identify if language accommodation was necessary and, if so, in which languages.
What was the timeline?
This work began in winter 2023 and concluded in summer 2024. Please see the project timeline for details.
What was the purpose of the focus groups? How were participants selected?
Focus groups let us gather input from community members at the initial phase of the project to then inform the creation of survey questions.
First, the working group defined 15 focus group types, based on shared characteristics (e.g., full-time faculty, international students), to ensure a variety of perspectives on learning, living and working at RISD. Then the working group sent invitations to identified potential participants, who then decided if they would like to take part.
Who has access to the assessment results and where do the results live?
We have compiled the results into a report that is available for RISD community members to view (RISD login required).
If you have any additional questions about the climate assessment, please email climate@risd.edu.