UNI Campus Climate Study Update

Dear UNI Community,

Earlier this semester, we announced the launch of an action-focused campus climate study facilitated by Rankin & Associates Consulting, LLC (R&A), an external consulting firm specializing in assessing and improving college and university living, learning, and working environments to be welcoming to and inclusive of all. This action item follows several being taken by the University following the annual report and recommendations made by the Council for Inclusion, Transformative Social Justice, and Advocacy issued in the fall.

R&A is working alongside the UNI Climate Study Work Group, composed of faculty, staff, students, and administrators who share a common goal to support a successful project that informs meaningful change on campus. The Climate Study Work Group has launched a webpage to keep the campus community informed of opportunities to engage in the process, to review communications shared with the UNI community, and to access forthcoming reports and recommendations following the survey and focus group processes.

On April 11, R&A will visit campus to host a series of small focus groups with students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The Climate Study Work Group members facilitated a process to invite members of the UNI community to participate while protecting the confidentiality of those invited to participate. The goal of these focus groups is to gather insight on the experiences and perceptions of the UNI community to help inform the development of the survey that will launch this coming fall to the entire campus while identifying potential action steps we can take prior to the conclusion of the study.

We invite you to visit the UNI Climate Study webpage to review the project phases and timeline, to access a listing of the work group members, and to read campus communications on this project. As the project continues, we will post findings, recommendations, and action steps resulting from the climate study process. If you would like to contact the Climate Study Work Group at any time, please email us at climate-study@uni.edu. 

Look for future communications about ways to stay engaged in this important campus-wide initiative that will help us create an even stronger UNI for years to come.

Thank you,

Cara Burnidge
Associate Professor
Philosophy & World Religions
Climate Study Work Group Co-Chair
E: cara.burnidge@uni.edu / O: 319-273-2220

Kristin Moser
Director and Assistant to the President
Institutional Effectiveness & Planning
Climate Study Work Group Co-Chair
E: kristin.moser@uni.edu / O: 319-273-3103

Andrew Morse
Chief of Staff
Office of the President
Climate Study Work Group Co-Chair
E: andrew.morse@uni.edu / O: 319-273-2570