[Story updated from Dec. 1, 2022]

Miami University will conduct its Campus Climate Survey 2023 from Jan. 25-March 1 to engage currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff in sharing their experiences on all campuses.

Students, faculty, and staff will receive the emailed survey on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Learn more at the Campus Climate Survey 2023 information page, including an overview of the survey, incentives to encourage participation, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Survey data, along with the qualitative data from stay and climate interviews gathered over the past few months from faculty, staff, and students, will be included in the development of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan. The strategic plan will allow leadership teams across Miami to more clearly identify and address university-wide and unit-specific areas of growth and best practices.

“This past year, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI) has focused on many new initiatives and actions, which we invite the Miami community to learn about through the OIDI Annual Report and new quarterly newsletter,” said Cristina Alcalde, vice president for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion.

“We approach the climate survey as the next significant step needed to advance inclusion for all of us across Miami,” she said. “Data from the survey will be critical in allowing us to identify and design additional initiatives, programs, and actions to continue to reflect our inclusive excellence approach. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to participate.”

OIDI has hired Viewfinder, a division of INSIGHT Into Diversity, to conduct the online survey during the spring semester. The survey will take about 20-30 minutes, with topics ranging from the classroom, workplace experiences, and out-of-classroom engagement.

Answers will remain confidential. Only aggregate data will be provided, with no identifiable information about individuals provided to Miami by Viewfinder, said Hiram Ramirez, senior director for DEI Strategic Initiatives.

OIDI staff have worked with Viewfinder on developing the survey with Miami’s unique culture and community in mind while also incorporating broader questions, based on the recommendations from the Presidential DEI Taskforce, MiamiRise, and input from stakeholders across Miami. 

They also looked at Miami’s 2017 climate survey results and recommendations and discussions with OIDI DEI Councils, academic chairs, deans, and specific student leadership groups like the Diversity Affairs Council, DEI Student Advisory Council, and Associated Student Government.

The survey includes questions on the experiences of specific populations such as military veterans, people of color, those with disabilities, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, and international individuals to better understand their experiences at Miami. The survey also includes questions focused on the experiences in the classroom, workplace, co-curricular experiences, and so forth.

“The main objective of this process is to better understand the climate and strengthen the sense of belonging for everyone across Miami,” Ramirez said.

This past summer, the campus climate survey was piloted with 180 Miami community members, including faculty, staff, and students, for additional feedback.

Raffles and other incentives will be offered during the survey to encourage participation.