California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
PAE-7: Measuring Campus Diversity Culture

Focus Groups conducted with ReEntry, Women, and CalWORKs students, as part of a study resulting in the reorganization of these three departments into the CalWORKs Office and the Violence Prevention and Women’s Resource Center. Several questions within the CIRP Freshman Survey, the CIRP College Senior Study and the NSSE Study measure student values and beliefs about diversity. The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey is designed to provide comprehensive information on incoming first-year students. The Cooperative Institute Research Program (CIRP) College Senior Survey provides a detailed understanding of our graduating seniors' experiences at Cal Poly Pomona, their future plans, and how they compare to students from similar institutions. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) obtains, information about student participation in programs and activities that an institution provides for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college. Survey items on The National Survey of Student Engagement represent empirically confirmed "good practices" in undergraduate education.

One example of how diversity assessment led to action was when a series of focus groups were held with ReEntry, Women' Resource Center, and CalWORKs students, as part of a study resulting in the reorganization of these three departments into the CalWORKs Office and the Violence Prevention and Women’s Resource Center.