Although most U-M faculty, staff and students express satisfaction with the U-M campus climate, overall perceptions of campus climate were less positive in 2021 than in 2016. It is important to consider these findings in light of the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-racist activism and growing political divisions in recent years. Consistent with these challenging circumstances, many reported experiences of discrimination and poorer mental health outcomes during the past few years. Even so, most U-M faculty, staff and students rate the DEI climate of U-M as better than it was before the launch of DEI 1.0, in part due to increased awareness and greater expectations in relation to DEI. Furthermore, most view U-M as better than most other institutions concerning DEI issues and report engaging in DEI activities themselves during DEI 1.0.
Satisfaction with campus climate and engagement in DEI activities vary across the campus community. Members of historically marginalized groups are less satisfied with the campus climate. This is especially true for Black students and staff, as well as women faculty and students, LGBTQ+ faculty, staff and students, and faculty, staff and students with disabilities. In accordance with these findings, members of historically marginalized groups tend to be most active in campus DEI efforts. Faculty and staff with disabilities, Black faculty and students, and women faculty and students are all more likely to engage in DEI activities on campus. Despite the progress that has been achieved, there is thus still work to be done to cultivate a more diverse, inclusive and equitable campus environment for all faculty, staff and students.
To learn more about these data, please see the Campus Climate Experiences section of the downloadable DEI 1.0 Evaluation Report. Additionally, more detailed information on the study methodology and additional results from the U-M Campus Climate Surveys on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can be found here.
Climate Survey
The Climate Survey data provides an overview of survey results provided to student, faculty and staff reporting on their perceptions of DEI 1.0 efforts. The Climate Survey data provides an overview of survey results provided to student, faculty and staff reporting on their perceptions of DEI 1.0 efforts. Four key metrics provide an overview of each constituencies responses to the Climate Survey: (1) When rating the satisfaction with the overall campus climate/environment over the past 12 months, the following indicates the percentage who reported being satisfied or very satisfied: students report 61%, staff report 59%, and faculty report 51%. (2) When reporting on perceptions of feeling discriminated against in the past 12 months, the following indicates the percentage who reported ‘yes’: students report 12%, staff report 16%, and faculty report 24%. (3) When reporting on the perceptions of mental health, the following indicates percentages reporting fair or poor: students report 42%, staff report 20%, and faculty report 20%. (4) When reporting on the perceptions of DEI progress since the start of the DEI plan, the following indicates the percentage reporting the same or much/somewhat better: students report 94%, staff report 92%, and faculty report 89%.
Click the image below to expand
The Climate Survey data provides an overview of survey results provided to student, faculty and staff reporting on their perceptions of DEI 1.0 efforts. The Climate Survey data provides an overview of survey results provided to student, faculty and staff reporting on their perceptions of DEI 1.0 efforts. Four key metrics provide an overview of each constituencies responses to the Climate Survey: (1) When rating the satisfaction with the overall campus climate/environment over the past 12 months, the following indicates the percentage who reported being satisfied or very satisfied: students report 61%, staff report 59%, and faculty report 51%. (2) When reporting on perceptions of feeling discriminated against in the past 12 months, the following indicates the percentage who reported ‘yes’: students report 12%, staff report 16%, and faculty report 24%. (3) When reporting on the perceptions of mental health, the following indicates percentages reporting fair or poor: students report 42%, staff report 20%, and faculty report 20%. (4) When reporting on the perceptions of DEI progress since the start of the DEI plan, the following indicates the percentage reporting the same or much/somewhat better: students report 94%, staff report 92%, and faculty report 89%.