Dear Salisbury University Community Member,
At Salisbury University, we seek to create an environment characterized by openness, fairness and equal access for all students, staff and faculty. A welcoming and inclusive campus climate is grounded in mutual respect, nurtured by dialogue, evidenced by a pattern of civil interaction and is one of the foundations of our educational model. Creating and maintaining a community environment that respects individual needs, abilities and potential are critically important.
This academic year, Salisbury University will undertake a vital and relevant campus climate study. This is our chance to make a difference in Salisbury University’s future and our opportunity to make positive, lasting changes and to help create a more inclusive campus where everyone believes they belong and can thrive. To ensure full transparency and to provide a more complete perspective, we have contracted with an independent firm, Rankin & Associates, to help lead this effort. Rankin & Associates has conducted over 200 campus climate assessment projects over the last 20 years.
A team from Rankin & Associates will be working with a committee of students, staff and faculty from Salisbury University to develop and implement the study. The SU Committee will be led by Dr. James King, Associate Professor of the English Department, and Humberto Aristizábal, Associate Vice President of Institutional Equity.
The goals of the SU Campus Climate Study are multifold:
1) identify successful initiatives,
2) uncover any challenges facing members of our community, and
3) develop strategic initiatives to build on the successes and address the challenges.
The results will enable us to develop programs and policies that will increase inclusivity and belonging at SU.
This SU campus climate study website has been developed to provide communication on the project process and results.
I hope that you will join me in supporting this important project.
Charles A. Wight, President
Salisbury University
September 6, 2019