Muhlenberg College
PA-13: Assessing Employee Satisfaction

We have administered two surveys assessing the campus climate for racial equity over the past two years using the NACCC (National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates) from the USC Center for Race and Equity. In the spring of 2022, we administered the survey to staff. We also completed the COACHE faculty job satisfaction survey in spring 2020 that included items that assessed experiences of equity and inclusion for faculty.

The COACHE faculty survey found differences between white faculty and faculty members of color in a number of areas of satisfaction with their faculty work; perceived lack of faculty diversity was one of the weaknesses that was reported, showing that a lack of a critical mass of faculty of color has the effects on belonging and support that the research would suggest. We continue to deepen our commitment to following inclusive and equitable hiring practices that maximize our ability to build a diverse faculty. We have also had numerous campus discussions and engaged working groups raising awareness of these gaps in equity and inclusion and making plans to close them. These include additional, targeted community building opportunities; mentoring; among other initiatives. The NACCC for students found Black students feel lower degrees of value and mattering from their white professors compared with white students and faculty members of color; students of color feel lower levels of inclusion and belonging on campus compared to white students; most students are reporting learning about race on campus, though white students are more likely to feel uncomfortable discussing race. These findings support our efforts to develop faculty capacity to use inclusive and antiracist pedagogies in their classrooms and new initiatives that facilitate dialogue across difference (e.g., The Campus Living Room Project).