Survey FAQs

Since the 2016 Climate Study, our campuses and communities have experienced a great deal that makes it critical that we try to understand the current climate at Kent State University. Recent events on and off campus, specifically the heightened social unrest in 2020-2021, have highlighted this point. This survey also coincides with recent realignment of university offices and resources and the establishment of new structures at the university all with the aim of better serving the needs of our community. These efforts, and specifically this important study, represent our continued commitment to the inclusion of all voices as we shape the future of the university.

University climate is defined as “the current attitudes, behaviors, standards and practices of employees and students of an institution.” The climate is often shaped through personal experiences, perceptions and institutional efforts.

As the university is constantly in pursuit of ways to better serve and understand the needs and experiences of our communities, multiple surveys focusing on different aspects of the university experience are conducted throughout the year. While other surveys may ask questions related to climate, this year’s climate study has a specific focus on issues related to race. This survey also involves gathering input from all students, faculty and staff rather than focusing on specific groups. This will help us understand the climate from various perspectives on campus.

The Climate Study Steering Committee (CSSC), which includes a cross section of Kent State University students, faculty and staff, is overseeing Kent State’s climate survey. Additionally, Kent State University Department of Sociology’s Survey Research Lab is providing direct technical and developmental assistance on this survey.

Working with a diverse set of university community members, the Kent State University Sociology Department’s Survey Research Lab led the effort to create and administer the survey. The current survey includes benchmarking questions that reference 2016 questions and data to assess progress in select areas of the campus climate.  It also includes new items specifically targeting the current focus of the 2021 survey and recent events both on and off campus.  With a shift to under 15 minutes and a keener focus on racial climate for the 2021 survey, some new items were developed and cognitively tested with individuals representing various roles in the KSU community (students, faculty, staff), different races, different ethnicities, and different levels of ableism. Adjustments were made drawing upon knowledge obtained in this testing process.

It is important in campus climate research for survey participants to “see” themselves in response choices to prevent “othering” an individual or an individual’s characteristics. Although it is reasonably impossible to include every possible choice to every question, the goal is to reduce the number of respondents who must choose “other.”

The primary investigator from Kent State University for the IRB process is Gregory Gibson, director of the Survey Research Lab in the Kent State University Department of Sociology. IRB approval has been secured. See IRB Protocol #21-061.