American University
PA-5: Assessing Diversity and Equity

Institution assesses diversity and equity on campus and uses the results to guide policy, programs, and initiatives. The assessment(s) address one or more of the following areas:

1. Campus climate, e.g. through a survey or series of surveys to gather information about the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of campus stakeholders and underrepresented groups
2. Student diversity and educational equity, e.g. through analysis of institutional data on diversity and equity by program and level, comparisons between graduation and retention rates for diverse groups, and comparisons of student diversity to the diversity of the communities being served by the institution
3. Employee diversity and employment equity, e.g. through analysis of institutional data on diversity and equity by job level and classification, and comparisons between broad workforce diversity, faculty diversity, management diversity and the diversity of the communities being served by the institution
4. Governance and public engagement, e.g. by assessing access to and participation in governance on the part of underrepresented groups and women, the centrality of diversity and equity in planning and mission statements, and diversity and equity in public engagement efforts

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1 point available for this credit for having conducted assessments that meet all of the criteria outlined above. Partial points are available based on the number of areas assessed. For example, an institution whose assessments covered 2 of the 4 areas listed would earn 0.5 points (half of the points available for the credit).

Timeframe

Report on the most recent assessment(s) conducted or updated during the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission.

Sampling and Data Standards

Diversity and equity may be assessed using representative samples.