The Fall 2024 climate survey builds on the important work and input gathered from URI’s inaugural campus climate survey conducted in Spring 2021. Our community shared their experiences and perceptions concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion at URI.
What is a “snap” climate survey?
A “snap” survey is a brief, internally developed and administered assessment of the community’s experience of the University of Rhode Island (URI) environment at a particular moment—a snapshot—in time. The survey was conducted October 15-November 1, 2024, approximately the sixth through the eighth week of the fall semester.
This 7-question survey (not including demographic questions) was intentionally designed to be much shorter than the comprehensive climate survey administered in spring 2021 and asked:
- How would you rate your overall experience at URI?
- To what extent do you agree with the following statement? I have found a community at URI where I feel like I belong.
- How likely are you to recommend the University of Rhode Island to a friend or colleague?
- I know URI resources I can go to for support if I experience inappropriate behavior.
- Do you know how to officially report any racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, or other offensive behaviors and statements at URI?
- I am treated fairly at URI without regard to any element of my personal identity (e.g., age, health status/disability, gender identity, race/ethnicity, national origin/citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or political affiliation).
- What is one thing you would recommend that the University do to materially improve your experience at URI this year?
The survey assesses the University’s progress toward its strategic initiative to foster an inclusive, people-centered culture, including opportunities to build on and actions to take in the near term. This survey is just the beginning and one tool while the University works to re-establish a baseline of how we are doing as a campus community since the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the future, the University plans to conduct a comprehensive Climate Survey, similar to the 2021 Climate Survey, which will provide more extensive insight into the drivers of University community members’ experiences. Over time, with greater participation from all University constituents, there will be more comprehensive and reliable data on which to base strategic decisions about prioritization of resources and support to foster an inclusive, people-centered culture, informed by the community’s input.
Who participated?
The “snap” climate survey was open to all URI students, faculty, staff, and affiliates (n=19,321). The survey was completely anonymous and confidential. Participants self-selected the category with which they identify. Some participants belong to more than one category, such as full-time staff who are also currently enrolled as students in a degree-granting program. Participants were asked to select their primary role at URI.
There were 2,739 survey respondents representing 14% of the total University population of students, faculty (including part-time faculty), and staff. While faculty (41% of full-time faculty and 28% of part-time faculty) and staff (39%) participated in the snap climate survey at relatively high rates, student responses were much less robust with 5% of undergraduate students and 10% of graduate students submitting survey responses.
As demonstrated by the following chart, staff submitted the majority of survey responses (38%), followed by undergraduate students (34%). University affiliates, individuals connected to the University who are neither students nor employees, are reflected in the category labeled other.
Students: 34%
Students: 9%
How is my data protected?
The survey was completely anonymous and confidential. Participants could answer as many or as few questions as they liked. No login information was required.
Only survey administrators—a total of 3 employees—in the Offices of Institutional Research and Community, Equity & Diversity—have access to anonymous, disaggregated demographic data. No individually identifiable data is visible to survey administrators. University leaders—President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and Deans—only have access to anonymous, disaggregated data where there are 10 or more responses in any given category.
All dimensions of human difference are important aspects of the diversity each member contributes to the University community. The snap climate survey provided participants opportunities to provide responses regarding many of those aspects of their social identity, including age, disability, religion, political affiliation, socio-economic status, military service, educational attainment levels, race/ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation, among others. Response rates from underrepresented communities were significantly low. By way of illustration and consistent with the State of Rhode Island’s requirement of certain reporting on the basis of race/ethnicity and sex (see, for example, Annual Legislative Report pursuant to RIGL §16-32-2.1), the following charts demonstrate responses reflecting those demographics overall. Responses from those populations to any specific survey question were notably smaller.
Respondent Demographics
Race/Ethnicity
| What is your race or ethnicity? (select all that apply) | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 2% | 42 |
| Asian | 6% | 123 |
| Black or African American | 6% | 125 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8% | 159 |
| Middle Eastern or North African | 2% | 43 |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1% | 14 |
| White | 84% | 1,631 |
Sex
| What is your assigned birth sex? | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 66% | 1,306 |
| Intersex | 0% | 1 |
| Male | 31% | 617 |
| Prefer not to say | 3% | 58 |
Due to low response rates among these and other underrepresented populations, and low participation from the University community overall, only aggregate results by role (student, faculty, staff) are shared with verified members of the University community in an effort to balance individual privacy with institutional transparency.
Why is the University asking for this information and what is the University doing to address the survey findings?
URI is striving for a data-informed, evidence-based approach to assessing access and inclusion that are at the heart of URI’s land-grant mission.
In a traditional survey, response rates might determine whether or not University leaders take action on survey data. In contrast, the snap climate survey format, and responses to the qualitative question in particular, provides helpful insight into aspects of the URI experience that are appreciated and that can be improved for all University constituents. For example, in response to quantitative and qualitative survey feedback, University leaders are taking steps to highlight support resources and pathways to report concerning behavior; conduct a study to benchmark compensation and align employees’ position classification to the duties assigned to their role; host open forums, such as coffee and conversation hours to share information about and receive feedback on University initiatives; and, provide resources to increase inclusive teaching and mentoring practices.
A note about the distinctions between the 2021 Campus Climate Survey and the 2024 Snap Climate Survey: There is no comparison between the 2021 Campus Climate Survey conducted in 2021 and the Snap Climate Survey conducted in 2024.
Methods: The 2021 survey was developed by an external survey administrator and consultant with the assistance of a Climate Survey Working Group composed of volunteers from throughout the University. Together, they implemented participatory and community-based processes to review tested survey questions from the external administrator’s question bank and developed a survey instrument for URI that would reveal the various dimensions of power and privilege that shaped the campus experience. During a post-pandemic rebuilding period for the University Diversity Council, which coordinates and collaborates on inclusive excellence initiatives including climate surveys, the Offices of Institutional Research and Community, Equity & Diversity internally developed the 2024 snap survey with input from the President’s Executive Council. The goal of the snap survey was to quickly assess URI community members’ current experiences and establish a new baseline in relation to the new University strategic plan, Focus URI, Strategic Priority 3.
Both surveys were administered online with paper surveys available upon request.
Questions: The 2021 comprehensive survey included 119 questions, including 18 open-ended, qualitative questions. The 2024 snap survey included 7 questions, including 1 open-ended, qualitative question.
Timing: The 2021 survey was conducted over a month-long period from March 2-April 2, 2021, during the spring semester amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The 2024 survey was conducted over a 2-week period during the fall semester after in-person instruction and on-site work had fully resumed for nearly all University constituents.
Participation: In 2021, 4,555 surveys were returned for an overall 22% response rate. In 2024, 2,739 surveys were returned for an overall participation rate of 14%.
Survey Results
The URI community can access survey results by population.