Amherst College
PA-6: Institutional Climate

6.1 Support for students from underrepresented groups

An institution earns 1 point when it supports one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of A) students with disabilities, B) students that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups, C) LGBTQ+ students, D) low-income and/or first-generation students, E) refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, and/or undocumented students, and F) students from one or more additional underrepresented groups. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the current status of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks. Examples include targeted grants, scholarships, and awards; mentorship programs; affinity groups and peer support networks; targeted academic support programs; and other programs and initiatives that explicitly aim to support individuals from each underrepresented group. To qualify, the specific group for which points are being claimed must be mentioned in the description of a program, network, or initiative. 

Commitments, plans, protocols, statements, recruitment activities, and generalized programs (e.g., that are open to all students) do not qualify in the absence of one or more of the targeted programs, initiatives, or networks described above.

6.2 Support for employees from underrepresented groups

An institution earns 1 point when it supports one or more programs, initiatives, or networks designed to address the specific needs of A) employees with disabilities, B) employees that identify as members of marginalized racial, ethnic, and/or Indigenous groups, C) LGBTQ+ employees, and D) employees from one or more additional underrepresented groups. Partial points are available as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the current status of the institution’s programs, initiatives, and networks. Examples include mentorship programs, affinity groups and peer support networks, and other programs and initiatives that explicitly aim to support individuals from each underrepresented group. To qualify, the specific group for which points are being claimed must be mentioned in the description of a program, network, or initiative. 

Commitments, plans, protocols, statements, recruitment activities, and generalized programs (e.g., that are open to all employees) do not qualify in the absence of one or more of the targeted programs, initiatives, or networks described above.

6.3 Institutional climate assessment

An institution earns 1 point for A) having conducted an institutional climate assessment within the previous three years and B) publishing the results of its institutional climate assessments. Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on assessments completed within the previous three years and the results of the most recent assessment to have been finalized.

Applicable to all institutions.