Strategic Plan

Long-Term Goal 4:
Harmonious Campus Climate

Long-Term Goal 4:  Harmonious Campus Climate.  Foster an harmonious student-centered campus characterized by integrity, cooperation, open dialogue and mutual respect among individuals with different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

1.  Data Sources for Measuring Achievement of Long-Term Goal 4

SIUE has data on faculty, student, and alumni perceptions of the campus climate from the UCLA study of faculty, the NSSE study of freshmen and seniors, and the baccalaureate follow-up study of one-year-out graduates.  Comparative data are available for the UCLA study and for NSSE, but not for the baccalaureate follow-up study.  The data are displayed in Appendix 4.  There are no campus-wide data about the perceptions of staff members.

2.  Status in Achieving Long-Term Goal 4

Faculty views of the campus climate have generally grown more positive over the 15 years in which SIUE has participated in the UCLA study, and compare favorably to those at other four-year public institutions.  While the percentage of faculty who say that the phrase "faculty members respect each other" is "very descriptive" of SIUE declined 6% in 2007 to 48%, the percentage fell slightly more for other four-year public institutions to 43%, a 7% decrease.

Faculty continue to endorse in increasingly greater numbers the belief that "development of a community of students and faculty to be a high or highest priority of institution" (53%), and the SIUE percentage continues to be higher than the percentage of faculty at other 4-year public institutions (51%).

The percentage of faculty in 2007 saying that the phrase "faculty at odds with the administration" is "very descriptive" of SIUE rose 6% but remained low at 11%.  Nationally, the percentage has risen from a low in 2004 of 16% to 25% in 2007.

Faculty perceptions of the treatment of women faculty, gay/lesbian, and minority faculty are also positive, and have increased from 71% in Fall 2004 to 92.7% in Fall 2007.  In Fall 2007, data from other four-year public institutions on these measures showed 87% of faculty reported positive perceptions.

The responses of SIUE freshman and senior students to NSSE questions about campus climate are not always above consortium peers.  In the positive arena, the percentage of freshmen in FY07 saying that other students are friendly and supportive and that they have a sense of belonging is above that of the urban consortium (78% for SIUE vs. 73% for those in the urban consortium, a 4% increase for each).  In addition, the favorable perception of seniors increased significantly from FY03 (77%) to FY06 (85%).  The FY07 SIUE percentage remains unchanged at 85% which is above the urban consortium percentage of 76%.

The percentage of freshmen and seniors reporting often having serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity has fluctuated over the five years covered by the studies, and has often been lower than the urban consortium percentages.  In FY07, SIUE freshmen reported having a serious conversation with students of a different race or ethnicity at a lower rate than their urban consortium peers (40% vs. 53%) with seniors reporting 48% vs. 57%.

The responses of one-year-out alumni to a question asking if their SIUE experiences were "very to extremely" helpful in "contributing to a greater understanding of people with different backgrounds, habits, values, appearances, and abilities" is 65% in 2006.  This shows an improvement from the 63% reported in 2005 following a low of 60% in 2003 and a high of 67% in 2004.  Unfortunately, benchmark data are not available for other Illinois institutions on this question.

3.  Highlights from FY08 in Pursuit of Long-Term Goal 4

Highlights of FY08 in pursuit of Long-Term goal 4 include:

1. Examined options for the Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) program to evolve into a University Multicultural Center.
   
   
2. Developed a new University Diversity Council to increase campus dialogue on diversity issues.
   
   
3. The “Cougar Creed” was published in poster format, framed and distributed throughout the campus.  Programs on civility have been conducted in RA training, residence halls, new faculty training, TA/GA training, and department chair meetings.
   
   
4. The Cougar statue was dedicated during Homecoming Week, October 3, 2007, with over 300 students, faculty and staff in attendance.
   
   
5. The Student Government has endorsed the program, “Building Bridges: Finding Common Ground;” to enhance appreciation for cultural differences.
   
   
6. Provided diversity training sessions to Deans and academic units. The School of Education created a new Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.
   
   
7. Several efforts, including regular Chancellor Update emails, Public Affairs SIUE News emails, and internal distribution of university publications were successfully initiated to increase communication with internal audiences.  Communication of 50th Anniversary celebration events was widespread throughout FY08.
   
   
8. Sixteen university-sponsored 50th Anniversary celebration events were held during FY08 with thousands of students, alumni, and friends of the university in attendance.  Volunteer leader efforts were coordinated through University Relations and Conferences and Institutes.

4.  Short-Term Goals and Plans

Fiscal Year 2009 

During FY09, SIUE will focus on the following short-term goals and plans relative to Long-Term-Goal 4.

a. Work with the University Diversity Council to identify major needs to enhance campus climate for faculty recruitment and retention as well as to promote student diversity throughout the academic units.

Responsibility: Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity

Source of Funds: Existing staff time and budget

Rationale: A diverse, supportive community must be actively created and maintained.

b. Implement new Communication Plan to more effectively engage faculty in conversations related to Academic Affairs initiatives and achievements.

Responsibility: Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Assistant to the Provost for Policy and Communication

Source of Funds: Existing staff time and budget

Rationale: To strengthen communication in support of the Academic mission.

c. Revise the Marketing and Communications plan to direct greater emphasis on the internal audience of faculty, staff, and students at SIUE.

Responsibility:  Vice Chancellor for University Relations

Source of Funds:  Existing staff time

Rationale:  Enhanced internal communications improve dialogue and allow for a greater appreciation of the quality of the institution.