Frequently Asked Questions

Campus climate typically refers to the experiences of individuals and groups on campus and the quality and extent of the interactions between those groups and individuals. Two interrelated factors contribute to a welcoming climate: a sense of belonging and a sense of autonomy. A sense of belonging stems from having spaces and groups of people where one feels respected, valued, and able to contribute. A sense of autonomy comes from being able to fully engage in the community without compromising core aspects of one’s identities and experiences. 

The Campus Climate Survey measures how students, faculty, and staff experience the University of Minnesota. It explores perspectives on belonging, inclusion, respect, and engagement, as well as experiences interacting across differences. The survey also examines perceptions of institutional support and experiences with bias or exclusion, helping the University identify strengths and opportunities to improve the campus environment.

MPact 2025, the U of M Systemwide Strategic Plan, calls for our university to foster a welcoming community that values belonging, inclusion, and dignity in people and ideas. Cultivating a welcoming and inclusive campus climate is the main focus of Commitment 4.2; however, campus climate is relevant to all five of the commitments.

The survey  results will enable us to assess whether our inclusion and belonging values are reflected in the daily experience of students, faculty, and staff to better understand the challenges of creating an environment that is respectful and inclusive for all. Coordinating this survey across campuses, colleges, units and departments will provide insights into how students, faculty and staff experience the campus climate.

Results will be shared through systemwide, campus, college, and administrative unit reports, with findings presented in aggregate to protect privacy and inform action across the University.

All students, staff, and faculty who have been attending or employed by the University of Minnesota  as of September 1, 2022, were invited to participate. All respondents must be at least 18 years old to complete the questionnaire.

No. Participation in this survey is voluntary.

For the survey data to be meaningful, we need responses from a broad and representative cross-section of the University of Minnesota community (faculty, staff, and students). This is an opportunity for all parts of the university, from faculty to dining hall staff to students and senior administrators, to share their experiences and help us accurately assess the systemwide campus climate at the University of Minnesota. Your response to the survey is important. 

The results will be used to guide our work to foster a welcoming community that values inclusion and belonging.

Yes. Your answers and personal information have been kept confidential and were analyzed only after being grouped together with those of hundreds of other students, faculty, or staff. Names were not be linked to responses, and no attempt has been made to identify any individual participant. Staff and faculty were grouped within broad units to ensure anonymity. SoundRocket, a social science survey research firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, administered this study for the University of Minnesota and has been hired to safeguard your data.

Background institutional data, specifically race, gender, and campus will be shared with SoundRocket. This data was linked to your name and email address (internet ID), which will be used as a unique key to ensure that only members of our campus community are able to take the survey, and to enable the sending of personalized survey reminders. Your demographic data (race and gender) was used to determine how the individuals who took the survey reflect the university population as whole and also each campus population. For undergraduate and graduate students only, UMN  (internet) IDs were linked via a confidential key to enable the institution to assess the long-term perceptions of campus climate.

Once the study was completed, summaries of these data, which did not contain identifying information about you or any other individual participating in the survey, were made available to others for related studies to improve protocols, evaluate programs, assess policies, or provide background for future research on these topics

To assess perceptions of the campus climate that pertain to your social identity, a series of specific demographic questions are asked including (but not limited to): race/ethnicity, gender identity (e.g., woman, man, transgender, gender non-conforming), socioeconomic class background, sexual orientation/identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, religion or spiritual beliefs, and political opinions. You may skip any questions that you prefer not to answer.

This study is being paid for by the University of Minnesota.

Contact SoundRocket, the University’s external vendor, at [email protected] with further questions or for technical assistance.

If you would like to speak to someone at the University of Minnesota about this survey, please contact [email protected]. 

The University of Minnesota is committed to maintaining a nondiscriminatory and harassment free learning, research, and work environment. This includes, but is not limited to all policies, practices, and conditions of employment. To report discrimination and/or harassment prohibited by college policy, please contact UReport via phone at 1-866-294-8680 or online.

The survey includes sections that ask about:

• Discrimination
• Fair and equitable treatment
• Interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Your sense of belonging
• Your direct experiences on your campus
• Overall health and wellness
• Adverse effects of COVID-19