Annual Climate Survey Summaries

Academic Year 2021 Pulse Survey Summary

Xavier University

In February 2021, Xavier facilitated our third “pulse” climate survey to help the University continually monitor how employees and students assess learning, living and working at Xavier. Specifically, we hope our annual pulse surveys will enable us to 1) identify areas where our climate has improved; 2) identify ongoing or new challenges; and 3) address areas that need improvement. Overall participation declined from 2,054 respondents in 2019 to 1,242 respondents in 2021. Only the faculty response rate improved from 31% in 2019 to 32% in 2021. The staff response rate declined from 57% in 2019 to 55% in 2021. The undergraduate and graduate student response rate fell noticeably with undergraduate response rate dropping from 25% in 2019 to 11% in 2021 and graduate response rate dropping from 13% to 7% from 2019 to 2021.

This spring, the Office of Institutional Research tabulated the survey results. Below are several initial findings with comparison to the 2019 Pulse Survey Results. (Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Pulse survey was not administered).

All Respondents

73% of survey respondents reported they were comfortable or very comfortable with the climate. This is an 11 percentage point decrease from 2019 where 84% of survey respondents reported they were comfortable or very comfortable with the climate. This decrease was true for each position type.
Similar to the 2019 pulse survey results, philosophical or political views were more frequently cited as the basis for experiences of exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that interfered with one’s ability to work or learn.
Similar to the 2019 pulse survey results, under-represented populations report less favorable and more problematic experiences of the campus climate than their peers or colleagues.

All Students

32% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bias and harassment. This response matches the 2019 results.
28% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate has improved regarding bullying and incivility. This is a two percentage point decrease from 2019 when 30% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bullying and incivility.
25% of student respondents think they are pre-judged by faculty based on the faculty’s perception of the student’s identity/background. This has not changed from the 2019 results.
87% of student respondents reported still feeling respected by other students in the classroom, equal to the 2019 results.
79% of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students outside of the classroom. This is a decrease of 3 percentage point from 2019 where 82% of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students outside of the classroom.
67% of student respondents believed that campus climate encourages free and open discussion of difficult topics. This is a decrease of 1 percentage point from the 2019 results.
12% of student respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to learn in the past 12 months. This is a 3 percentage point decrease from 2019 where 15% of student respondents had experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to learn in the previous 12 months.
21% of student respondents still considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months, equal to the 2019 results.

Faculty & Staff

13% of staff and 5% of faculty respondents chose to not answer what work unit or college they worked in, as compared to the 2019 results where 13% of staff respondents and 4% of faculty respondents chose to not answer what work unit or college they worked in.
21% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bias and harassment. This was a 4 percentage point decrease from 2019 where 25% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bias and harassment.
16% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate has improved regarding bullying and incivility. This is a 4 percentage point decrease from 2019 where 20% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding to bullying and incivility.
35% of faculty respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months. This is an 8 percentage point increase from 2019 where 27% of faculty respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the previous 12 months.
50% of staff respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months. This is a 4 percentage point increase from 2019 where 46% of staff respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the previous 12 months.
17% of faculty respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that has interfered with their ability to work in the past 12 months, equal to the 2019 results.
In the past 12 months, 21% of staff respondents reported observing hiring practices that they perceived to be unjust of that inhibited diversifying the community. This is an increase of 2 percentage points from 2019 where 19% of staff respondents reported observing hiring practices that they perceived to be unjust of that inhibited diversifying the community.

Academic Year 2019 Pulse Survey Summary

Xavier University

In February 2019 Xavier facilitated our second annual “pulse” climate survey to help the University continually monitor how employees and students assess learning, living and working at Xavier. Specifically, we hope our annual pulse surveys will enable us to 1) identify areas where our climate has improved; 2) identify ongoing or new challenges; and 3) address areas that need improvement. This semester 2,054 students, faculty, and staff took the survey: 57% of staff, 31% of faculty, 25% of undergraduate students and 13% of graduate students participated.

These response rates increased as compared to the 2018 Pulse Survey where 1,147 students, faculty, and staff took the survey: 54% of staff, 28% of faculty, 11% of undergraduate students and 5% of graduate students participated. This Spring the Office of Institutional Research tabulated the survey results. Below are several initial findings with comparison to the 2018 Pulse Survey Results.

All Respondents
• 84% of survey respondents reported they were comfortable or very comfortable with the climate. This is a 6% increase from 2018 where 78% of survey respondents reported they were comfortable or very comfortable with the climate. This increase was true for each position type, except Non-Exempt (hourly) Staff where 67% reported they were comfortable in 2019 and 73% reported they were comfortable in 2018; a decrease of 6%.
• Similar to the 2018 pulse survey results, philosophical or political views were more frequently cited as the basis for experiences of exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that interfered with one’s ability to work or learn.
• Similar to the 2018 pulse survey results, under-represented populations’ report less favorable and more problematic experiences of the campus climate than their peers or colleagues.

Students
• 32% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months climate had improved regarding bias and harassment. This is a 3% increase from 2018 where 29% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bias and harassment.
• 30% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months climate has improved regarding bullying and incivility. This is a 6% increase from 2018 where 24% of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bullying and incivility.
• 25% of student respondents think they are pre-judged by faculty based on the faculty’s perception of the student’s identity/background. This is a decrease of 4% from 2018 where 29% of student respondents indicated that faculty pre-judge their abilities.
• 87% of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students in the classroom. This is an increase of 6% from 2018 where 81% of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students in the classroom.
• 82% of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students outside of the classroom. This is an increase of 9% from 2018 where seventy-three percent (73%) of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students outside of the classroom.
• 68% of student respondents believed that campus climate encourages free and open discussion of difficult topics. This is an increase of 6% from 2018 where 62% of student respondents believed that campus that campus climate encourages free and open discussion of difficult topics.
• 15% of student respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to learn in the past 12 months. This is a 5% decrease from 2018 where 20% of student respondents had experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to learn in the previous 12 months.
• 21% of student respondents considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months. This is a 3% decrease from 2018 where 24% of student respondents considered leaving Xavier in the previous 12 months.

Faculty & Staff
• 13% of staff and 4% of faculty respondents chose to not answer what work unit or college they worked in, as compared to the 2018 results where 17% of staff respondents and 8% of faculty respondents chose to not answer what work unit or college they worked in.
• 25% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding bias and harassment. This was a 12% decrease from 2018 where 37% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bias and harassment.
• 20% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate has improved regarding bullying and incivility. This is a 9% decrease from 2018 where 29% of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved regarding to bullying and incivility.
• 27% of faculty respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months. This is a 6% decrease from 2018 where 33% of faculty respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the previous 12 months.
• 46% of staff respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the past 12 months. This is a 5% increase from 2018 where 41% of staff respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the previous 12 months.
• 17% of faculty respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that has interfered with their ability to work in the past 12 months. This is a 5% decrease from 2018 where 23% of the faculty respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that has interfered with their ability to work in the past 12 months.
• In the past 12 months, 19% of staff respondents reported observing hiring practices that they perceived to be unjust of that inhibited diversifying the community. This is an increase of 3% from 2018 where 16% of staff respondents reported observing hiring practices that they perceived to be unjust of that inhibited diversifying the community.
• In comparison to 2018, non-exempt staff reported, across a number of measures, a decrease of satisfaction with campus climate.

Next Steps
A summary of the findings of the 2018 Pulse Survey will be shared by email with the campus community before the end of the spring semester. Additionally, findings will also be discussed with University leadership who will then discuss them within their divisions. More detailed presentations of the findings and analysis will be shared with the campus community this summer and early next fall when faculty and students return to campus. Survey results and analysis will be used by University leaders to inform, and in some cases modify, existing strategic plans as well as to create their 2019-2020 annual goals.

Academic Year 2018 Pulse Survey Summary

Xavier University

Last spring Xavier facilitated our first annual “pulse” climate survey to help the University continually monitor how employees and students assess learning, living and working at Xavier. Specifically, we hope our new annual pulse surveys will enable us to 1) identify areas where our climate has improved; 2) identify ongoing or new challenges; and 3) address areas that need improvement. Last semester 1,147 students, faculty, and staff took the survey: 54% of staff, 28% of faculty, 11% of undergraduate students and 5% of graduate students participated. This low response rate for students means that the results are not generalizable to the entire student population, although we can still gain valuable insights from the results. This summer the Office of Institutional Research tabulated the survey results. Below are several initial findings. The phrasing of the pulse survey questions often did not allow for a direct comparison with the 2016 climate survey results. References to the 2016 results are provided when possible.

All Respondents
- Seventy-eight percent (78%) of survey respondents reported they were comfortable or very comfortable with the climate. This is a 2% decrease from 2016.
- Twenty-two percent (22%) of survey respondents reported they have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, and/or hostile conduct that has interfered with their ability to work or learn. This is a 2% increase from 2016.
- Compared to the 2016 climate survey results, philosophical or political views were more frequently cited as the basis for experiences of exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that interfered with one’s ability to work or learn.

Students
- Twenty-nine percent (29%) of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bias and harassment compared to 11% who indicated the climate was worse.
- Twenty-four percent (24%) of student respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bullying and incivility compared to 4% who indicated the climate was worse.
- Ninety-two percent (92%) of student respondents reported feeling respected by faculty in the classroom. This is a 6% increase from 2016.
- Twenty-nine percent (29%) of student respondents indicated that faculty pre-judge their abilities. This is a decrease of 8% from 2016.
- Eighty-one percent (81%) of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students in the classroom. This is a decrease of 3% from 2016.
- Seventy-three percent (73%) of student respondents reported feeling respected by other students outside of the classroom. This is a decrease of 5% from 2016.
- Twenty-seven percent (27%) of undergraduate student respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier in the last 12 months. The top two reasons they considered leaving were not belonging (57%) and the campus climate was not welcoming (38%).
- In the past 12 months, 22% of undergraduate student respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to learn or work. This is an increase of 4% from 2016.

Faculty & Staff
- Seventeen percent (17%) of staff respondents and 8% of faculty respondents chose to not answer what work unit or college they worked in.
- Thirty-seven percent (37%) of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bias and harassment compared to 7% who indicated the climate was worse.
- Twenty-nine percent (29%) of faculty and staff respondents indicated that in the last 12 months the climate had improved with respect to bullying and incivility compared to 7% who indicated the climate was worse.
- In the past 12 months, 33% of faculty respondents and 41% of staff respondents seriously considered leaving Xavier. The top two reasons they considered leaving Xavier were increased workload (42%) and financial such as resources available and compensation (40%).
- In the past 12 months, 23% of the faculty respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct that has interfered with their ability to work. This is a decrease of 2% from 2016.
- In the past 12 months, 24% of staff respondents have experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive, and/or hostile conduct that interfered with their ability to work. This is a decrease of 3% from 2016.
- In the past 12 months, 14% of faculty respondents and 16% of staff respondents reported observing hiring practices that they perceived to be unjust of that inhibited diversifying the community. Nepotism/cronyism was the top observation listed (30%).

Faculty & Staff Perception of Efforts to Address 2016 Climate Survey Learnings
In the spring of 2017, the University initiated a number of efforts to address concerns raised in the 2016 climate survey. Pulse survey participants were asked to evaluate their perception of University commitment related to these areas of work.
- Sixty-five percent (65%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented staff.
- Sixty-six percent (66%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to leadership training opportunities for their supervisors.
- Seventy-four percent (74%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to diversity training for all employees.
- Forty-four percent (44%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to improving the annual performance review process.
- Twenty-five percent (25%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to changes to the 90-day hiring delay.
- Thirty-six percent (36%) agree or somewhat agree that Xavier is committed to creating affinity spaces for faculty and staff.

Next Steps
Findings of the pulse survey will be discussed with University leadership who will then discuss the results within their divisions. A more detailed presentation of findings and analysis, including a plan of how the results will be used to affect campus climate in the next year, will be shared with the campus community in October 2018.