| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.15 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Walker |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southern Oregon University
PA-5: Assessing Diversity and Equity
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 1.00 |
Roxane
Beigel-Coryell Sustainability & Recycling Coordinator Facilities Management & Planning |
Has the institution engaged in a structured assessment process during the previous three years to improve diversity, equity and inclusion on campus?:
A brief description of the assessment process and the framework, scorecard(s) and/or tool(s) used:
The Not Alone Survey was conducted in Spring 2017 to generate school-specific data on experiences of sexual violence and student perceptions of the campus climate at SOU. The web-based questionnaire asked about experiences of sexual harassment, coerced sexual contact, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, followed by more general questions about perceptions of the campus climate, knowledge of school policies and resources, and participation in sexual assault education and prevention. All undergraduate students who were 18 years or over, and who had taken at least one class on the Ashland or Medford campus during the Spring 2017 term, were asked to participate. Out of 3,518 students, 1,836 participated in the survey for a response rate of 52%.
The main goal of the survey was to generate school-specific data to improve institutional responses, including targeted prevention, intervention, support for victims, and accountability for offenders. These efforts are always more successful when they are tailored to the unique needs of individual campuses, which is why it is so important to have accurate school-specific data. When schools have a clear understanding of the climate around sexual assault as it actually exists on their campuses, they are in a better position to effectively prevent and respond to incidents of campus sexual assault. The regular administration of campus climate surveys can show changes over time, such as decreases in sexual assaults and increases in awareness or reporting, helping schools measure whether their prevention and response efforts are working.
Does the assessment process address campus climate by engaging stakeholders to assess the attitudes, perceptions and behaviors of faculty, staff, administrators and students, including the experiences of underrepresented groups?:
Does the assessment process address student outcomes related to diversity, equity and success (e.g. graduation/success and retention rates for underrepresented groups)?:
Does the assessment process address employee outcomes related to diversity and equity (e.g. pay and retention rates for underrepresented groups)?:
A brief description of the most recent assessment findings and how the results are used in shaping policy, programs and initiatives:
Overall, respondents had a positive outlook on the campus climate. Ninety-four percent of respondents reported feeling safe on campus and a large majority reported feeling valued, happy, and protected at SOU. Less than a quarter (24%) of respondents agreed that alcohol abuse is a big problem at the school. Around 70% of respondents agreed that school administrators are concerned about their well-being, are trying to protect them from harm, and treat students fairly. When asked about SOU’s leadership around issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault, there was strong agreement that sexual harassment is not tolerated at SOU (94%), that the school is doing a good job of providing services to victims of sexual assault (93%), and that it takes training in sexual assault prevention seriously (90%). The full survey results are available at: https://inside.sou.edu/assets/studentlife/diversity/2017_SOU_Campus_Climate_Survey_Report_2.pdf
Southern Oregon University is deeply committed to addressing the issue of sexual assault and misconduct. The information provided by this climate study will be used to strategically inform our prevention efforts, improve our response and resources for those who have been impacted by sexual misconduct, and foster a more safe and welcoming campus community. During the 2017-18 Academic Year results will be shared and discussed with the Title IX team, the Violence Prevention and Response Advocates (ViPRA), the Administration, and the Executive Council to build awareness and solicit ideas for improvement. The Title IX Coordinator and one of the researchers will also host several forums for students, faculty, and staff to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual misconduct on our campus. These discussions will inform strategic planning for our prevention efforts beginning during the 2018-19 academic year.
Are the results of the most recent structured diversity and equity assessment shared with the campus community?:
A brief description of how the assessment results are shared with the campus community:
The assessment results have been made publicly available on SOU's diversity & inclusion website.
Are the results (or a summary of the results) of the most recent structured diversity and equity assessment publicly posted?:
The diversity and equity assessment report or summary:
The website URL where the report or summary is publicly posted:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.