Campus Climate Survey 2019-2020

Sexual violence and harassment is an urgent issue on university campuses. Recent federal guidance and possible legislation strongly recommend campus climate surveys as a best practice strategy to help institutions better understand the scope of sexual violence and harassment on campus and develop targeted prevention and response strategies. However, most institutions struggle to implement and use the data from campus climate surveys, and the Educational Advisory Board (EAB) is assisting institutions in addressing this issue with an online survey that can be administered consistently each year, provide national norms and data, and provide institutional and cohort data. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Title IX compliance requirements also mandate institutions to provide campaigning, education, and training to all students regarding sexual violence and harassment. This data will provide feedback on how we can provide additional resources/programming to our campus community.

In support of this initiative, we administered our fifth anonymous campus climate survey to students via the Educational Advisory Board (EAB) in fall 2020.

Below are a few summarized take-aways and formulated action items based off the fall 2020 survey results.

Survey Respondent Demographics

9% of students (211) participated in this survey.
The majority of respondents were white (52%), heterosexual (90%), and female (77%).
Hispanic (9%) and Black or African American (3%) respondents were underrepresented in this survey.
23% of the respondents were first generation students.
18% of the respondents had a mental disability.
Action Item: Reevaluate current marketing methods and incentives for survey participation. There was an 8% drop in respondents from 2019 to 2020.
Action Item: Explore strategies within the Division of Student and Academic Affairs to learn from and support underrepresented students.

General Campus Climate

80% of respondents suggested that they feel safe at this school, which is a drop from a reported 99% in 2019.
While overall respondents strongly agreed that they feel safe at this school (80%), only 43% of African American students feel safe at school.
21% of respondents seriously considered leaving school, which is an increase from a reported 11% in 2019. It was most commonly reported that they struggled with mental health challenges or they didn’t feel welcomed or supported at this school.
56% of all respondents think faculty pre-judge their abilities based on their identity or background, whereas 31% of students felt pre-judged by faculty in 2019.
Black or African American respondents overall had more concerns regarding their welfare, close relationships with others on campus, and university’s support for their education when compared to other groups on campus.
23% of respondents felt the university provided a safe supportive educational environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Status Update: In 2020, the Office of Care and Civility offered programming for personal and situational awareness and safety, and communication and relationship building.
Action Item: Increase number of programs related to campus safety and increase program collaboration with campus police department.
Action Item: Identify underlying factors impacting differing perceptions of campus safety in student subpopulations.
Action Item: Collaborate with Office of Student Engagement and Experience to address factors impacting underrepresented students.

Perceptions of Diversity and Inclusion on Campus

86% of respondents suggested that diversity is fully embraced within the campus culture, compared to 91% of respondents 2019.
The majority of students (86%) felt welcomed and supported at this school, regardless of background or identity, but 42% felt they needed to hide some aspects of their identity to fit in, which increased from 38% in 2019.
Respondents felt that the politically conservative students and those affected by learning disabilities were given less respect than other groups around campus.
Overall, Black and African American students felt that diversity is not fully embraced within campus culture, is not reflected in the faculty and administrators, and they did not feel as welcomed and supported as other groups.
Action Item: Explore strategies within the Division of Student and Academic Affairs to learn from and support underrepresented students.

Services and Programs

Respondents are most aware of services supporting students with disabilities (69%), international students (52%), and LGBT+ (58%).
69% of respondents are aware of services addressing the needs of students with disabilities, but only 8% stated that they had used the services.
50% of respondents indicated they hear about programs, activities, and events promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, but 58% reported attending these events rarely or never.
Status Update: In 2020, the Office of Care and Civility regularly promoted the Care Team.
Action Item: Collaborate with stakeholders to create intentional programming through the Division of Student and Academic Affairs to promote resources and educate on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Action Item: Collaborate with offices that offer student support services and reexamine marketing efforts that promote student support services.

Experiences with Discrimination and Harassment

100% of respondents said they did not formally report the incident to the school, compared to 84% in 2019.
82% of respondents stated that the source of the incidents were a person affiliated with the university.
Common reasons for not reporting the incident were fear it would not be taken seriously (16%), they didn’t think it was serious enough to report (19%), and fear of harassment (13%). In 2019, 39% of respondents did not report the incident from fear it would not be taken seriously.
Status Update: In 2020 the Division of Student and Academic Affairs sent out monthly emails outlining university policies related to discrimination, harassment, sexual assault, support services and reporting options. Additionally, the division recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Action Item: Continue to advertise and communicate information regarding reporting options, such as the Trust Line, Student Complaint Form, and the Person of Concern Reporting Form.
Action Item: Increase the number of programs and trainings addressing discrimination, harassment, professionalism, and diversity and inclusion.

Interactions with Diverse Peers

Respondents most commonly socialized with and engaged in serious conversations with students who were different from them in religious beliefs (67%) or their race or ethnicity (71%).
17% of respondents don’t feel any discomfort interacting with peers who are different from them, compared to 26% in 2019.
The most common reason (31%) why respondents might hesitate to engage with others is fear that they might say something that could be perceived to be offensive or uninformed, compared to 49% of respondents in 2019.
Respondents stated (36%) that the classroom is the primary interaction place for students whose background and identities differ from their own, whereas in 2019, 57% of students reported the classroom as being the primary interaction place.
Status Update: In 2020, the Office of Care and Civility offered programming around healthy communication and communication between generational gaps, and how to apply the EQI model to maintain healthy relationships with others.
Action Item: Identify faculty stakeholders to explore options for incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion into the curriculum.

Perceptions of Campus Inclusivity

86% of respondents have access to a faculty or staff member they trust.
In general, most respondents feel issues of diversity and inclusion are adequately addressed.
77% of respondents feel that the school provides enough programs that promote meaningful interactions between students from different cultures.

Basic Needs Insecurity

20% of respondents often or sometimes couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals, compared to 26% in 2019.
21% of respondents worried whether their food would run out before they had money to buy more, compared to 25% in 2019.
In Spring of 2019, 12% of respondents reported experiencing some kind of housing insecurity since the beginning of the fall (2018) semester, whereas 10% of respondents reported this issue in the fall semester of 2020.
14% of respondents ate less than they felt they should and cut the size of meals or skipped meals because there wasn’t enough money for food.
Status Update: In 2020, the Office of Care and Civility operated one food pantry location throughout COVID-19, and regularly promoted Tarrant Area Food Bank locations and mobile markets. Additionally, through the CARES Act and the student assistance fund, UNTHSC was able to provide students with funds for their basic needs and housing during the pandemic.
Action Item: Market the student food pantry more effectively.
Action Item: Ensure that up to date food insecurity and housing resources are included in the resource guidebook.
Action Item: Include marketing materials for off campus resources related to food and housing insecurity.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Student Knowledge

88% of respondents received sexual violence prevention training or information, compared to 75% in 2019.
Most respondents (90%) felt that the training was useful in increasing knowledge about how to report an incident of sexual violence and 81% felt that it was useful in increasing knowledge about university procedures.
39% of respondents indicated that they received information or training at new student orientation, compared to 64% of respondents in 2019.
Status Update: In 2020, the Division of Student and Academic Affairs offered Title IX training informally through an orientation presentation, formally through the WeComply platform, and during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), Stalking Awareness Month (January), and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Action Item: Continue to program around sexual violence prevention and partner with academic programs to reinforce institutional policies, sexual violence prevention and campus and community resources.

Knowledge of Reporting

Most respondents (80%) were confident that the university would administer the formal procedure to fairly address a report of harassment or discrimination, compared to 91% of respondents in 2019.
The majority of respondents (94%) believed the university would take the report seriously and 92% take steps to protect the reporter from retaliation.
Nearly half (46%) of the respondents believed the accused or their friends could retaliate against the person making the report, and 41% believed the educational achievement/career of the person making the report would suffer.
Action Item: Create and provide education surrounding anti-retaliation process.
Action Item: The Division of Student and Academic Affairs will continue to regularly communicate with the student population information related to sexual assault support resources, university policies, and reporting options.

Experiences with Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment

Less than 1% of respondents experienced at least one incident of sexual misconduct at least one time since the beginning of the school year.
31% of respondents had someone make a sexist remark or joke in their presence, compared to 39% in 2019.
Status Update: In 2020, the Division of Student and Academic Affairs regularly communicated information regarding reporting options, the Trust Line, Student Complaint Form, and the Person of Concern Reporting Form. Additionally, sexual assault programming was offered during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), Stalking Awareness Month (January), and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Action Item: Continue to advertise and communicate information regarding reporting options, such as the Trust Line, Student Complaint Form, and the Person of Concern Reporting Form.

Prior Experience with Unwanted Sexual Conduct

22% of respondents reported that someone had or attempted to have unwanted sexual contact with them prior to going to college and 19% of those were women.
Action Item: Increase awareness of sexual assault support services at programming prior to matriculation (i.e. Discover myHSC Day) for students who many want to connect with resources prior to the start of school at HSC.

Community Behaviors

Respondents generally viewed themselves as more likely than their peers to engage in bystander behaviors. 96% of respondents decided not to have sex with someone if they are drunk, and 95% would confront a friend who says they did have sex with someone who was passed out or did not give consent.
90% of respondents indicated that they would report a friend who committed sexual violence.
Action Item: Offer bystander intervention training opportunities several times a year to students, faculty, and staff.

Community Attitudes

33% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that rape and sexual violence can happen unintentionally, especially if alcohol was involved, whereas 38% of respondents agreed in 2019.
8% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that a person who is sexually assaulted or raped while he or she is drunk is at least somewhat responsible. 12% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed in 2019.
The majority (81%) of respondents indicated that sexual misconduct is not really a problem at this school, whereas 53% of respondents indicated that sexual misconduct was not a problem in 2019.
Status Update: In 2020, the Office of Care and Civility recognized National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (March-April), national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), International Overdose Awareness Day, Recovery Month (September), Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October), and National Impaired Driving Month (December).
Action Item: Continue to offer programming focused on sexual violence and alcohol awareness.
Action Item: Offer campus norms programs to promote positive behavioral and support services.

Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence & Stalking and Harassment

14% of respondents experienced some form of non-violent behavior or harassment from an intimate partner. This is in comparison to 23% of respondents in 2019 that experienced some form of non-violent behavior or harassment from an intimate partner.
1% of respondents experienced some form of violent behavior from an intimate partner, whereas 4% experienced some form of violent behavior from a partner in 2019.
Respondents most commonly experienced exposure of personal information or the spread of rumors about them on the internet, received unwanted e-mails or other forms of written communication, and/or offensive or abusive comments on their social media page or online space.
Status Update: In 2020, the Division of Student and Academic Affairs regularly communicated information regarding reporting options, the Trust Line, Student Complaint Form, and the Person of Concern Reporting Form. Additionally, sexual assault programming was offered during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), Stalking Awareness Month (January), and Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).
Action Item: Continue to advertise and communicate information regarding reporting options, such as the Trust Line, Person of Concern, Student Complaint Form.

We will be launching the next Campus Climate survey in 2022. The survey will be titled Campus Climate Survey. All students will receive an initial email invitation and two email reminders during the three weeks the survey is available.

EAB will provide institutional and cohort data to all participating universities. Our goal is to distribute the results to the campus in conjunction with plans for additional resources/programming based on survey results.

Our office is prepared to provide any resources needed for students who have emotional triggers or questions about the survey. Contact information for assistance is provided at the end of the survey. Other campus and community resources can be found HERE. If students have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Care and Civility at OCC@unthsc.edu.

A comparison report over the past 5 years can be found HERE.

A printable version of the 2019-2020 Campus Climate Survey can be found HERE

2018-2019 Campus Climate Survey Results

2017-2018 Campus Climate Survey Results

2016-2017 Campus Climate Survey Results

2015-2016 Campus Climate Survey Results