UMW Climate StudyFall 2012

Office on Diversity and InclusionLeah Cox

withSally Scott, Director of Disability Resources

Tracy Citeroni, SociologyFarhang Rouhani, Geography

Debra Schleef, SociologyStudents in SOCG 364 and 365

DemographicsOverall N: 570 Gender: 77% female, 22% male, 1%

otherDisability: 13%Non-native English Speaker: 6%

Year: First or less 36% Second 26 Third 25 Four or more 13

Demographics: Race/ethnicity Black 6% Asian 5 White 76 Latino 5 Multiracial 5 Other 3

Demographics: Family Income Less than 30K 9% 30-50K 10% 50-70K 13 70-100K 21 100-150 21 150-200K 13200K and up 13

Demographics: Religion Protestant 39% Catholic 16 Other 6 Agnostic 10 Spiritual, no specific religion 2 No religion/atheist/not given 27

Demographics: Political Preference Left or far left 17% Liberal 31 Middle of the road 29 Conservative 18 Right or far right 5

No response N = 14

Campus climate for diversity I feel a sense of acceptance and belonging at UMW

Strongly disagree 5%Disagree 8Agree 59Strong Agree 29

I am satisfied with my campus experience on diversity

Strongly disagree 6%Disagree 17Agree 60Strong Agree 17

The environment encourages appreciation for diversity

Strongly disagree 5%Disagree 19Agree 54Strong Agree 22

Race / Ethnicity The faculty/staff here are respectful people of different races

and ethnicities

Strongly disagree 2%Disagree 3Agree 52Strong Agree 43

The students here are respectful of people of different races and ethnicities

Strongly disagree 3%

Disagree 6Agree 61Strong Agree 30

Gender Identity People of different gender identities and expressions are

accepted socially

Strongly disagree 3%Disagree 6Agree 59Strong Agree 33

Faculty/staff are respectful of different gender identities and expression

Strongly disagree 2%Disagree 2Agree 57Strong Agree 39

Students with DisabilitiesFaculty/staff are accepting of students with disabilities

Strongly disagree 1%Disagree 2Agree 57Strong Agree 40

Students are accepting of students with disabilities

Strongly disagree 2%Disagree 5Agree 60Strong Agree 33

Experiences of Discrimination Felt discrimination because gay

Very often to often 1%Occasionally 3

Felt discrimination because non-English speaker Very often to often <1%Occasionally 10

Felt discrimination because of SESVery often to often 1%Occasionally 5

Felt discrimination because disabled Very often to often <1%Occasionally 2

Felt discrimination because of race/ethnicityVery often to often 3%Occasionally 6

Felt discrimination because of genderVery often to often 3%Occasionally 7

When asked to describe experiences of discrimination qualitatively, 152 students (27%) did so.

Contact with Diverse Students:

Average Score (1= Very Frequent Contact, 5 = No Contact)

• Before UMW At UMW

Contact with African Americans 2.10 2.71 Contact with Native Americans 3.93 4.19 Contact with Asians 2.61 3.12 Contact with Latinos 2.32 3.20 Contact with non-English speakers 2.89 3.35 Contact with people of different SES 1.97 2.16 Contact with people of different religions 1.85 1.87 Contact with people with disabilities 2.76 3.09 Contact with people from other countries 2.93 3.03 Contact with people with different politics 1.71 1.85 Contact with people with gender identities 2.47 2.17 different from my own

Qualitative Comments: Discrimination Accounts

Called offensive names based on sexual orientation; roommate not tolerant of my sexual orientation; remarks from people about kissing my partner in public

The right wing political views that tend to go with Catholicism have also made me a target, being that I am liberal.

Students and teachers alike have personally discriminated against me inside, and outside of class for my political affiliation as a republican.

I have been discriminated against as a female by a few professors who have not given me the same respect as they have to men

Stuff like "ADD isn't a real disability" "You wouldn't be in such pain if you weren't fat" Age is not consider your survey. We have a lot of older students and they are often shunned by

other, younger students. I was part of a LLC that was all white with the exception of one other student and myself. The

program assistant barely talked to me and I felt left out of most of the discussions I have heard a few people use the N word. I have heard many people say things like certain African

American holidays are unimportant. I have even heard someone talk about slavery. It is really minor compared to others I have heard. Just students making remarks about the fact that

I wear the hijjab (scarf). Student commenting on the way I dress. In a classroom where I've been called out for not being educated enough for this establishment. I

also have been told I belonged in a community college by a professor but I voiced my opinions so there won't be anymore of that happening anytime soon.

my dad is what i would consider upper middle class, but i have not been supported by him since i was 18 (11 years) and would consider myself impoverished at many points in my life. i believe the socioeconomic status of the majority of students here at UMW lends itself to an unawareness of many peoples' realities.

Assumptions that I cannot do something because of being female. One of my teachers said that my family in Pakistan could be terrorists.

Comfort with Students:

Average Score (1= Not Comfortable, 4 = Very Comfortable)

• Studying Living With

African American 3.71 3.43 Native American 3.71 3.50 Asian 3.74 3.50 Latino 3.70 3.45 Middle Easterner 3.65 3.35 Student with Disability 3.44 2.95 International Student 3.66 3.40 Gay Man 3.59 [2.72] Heterosexual Man NA [3.55] Lesbian 3.56 [2.94] Heterosexual WomanNA [3.53] Transgender student 3.37 NA

Satisfaction with and awareness of programs Average Score (1= Very unsatisfied, 4 = Very Satisfied)

Programs to increase awareness of diversity 3.1 16% not aware

Programs to increase respect for diverse cultures 3.1 14% not aware

Programs to further gender equality 3.1 22% not aware

Opportunities for me to interact with diverse

persons on campus 2.9 16% not aware

Services addressing the needs of individuals of

diverse religions 3.0 28% not aware

Services addressing the needs of persons with

disabilities 3.1 29% not aware

Services addressing the needs of international

students 3.1 35% not aware

Services addressing the needs of LGBT students 3.1 30% not aware

Campus climate (Cont.) The president and other administrators foster respect for diversity Disagree 4% Agree 96

The president and other administrators foster accessibility for persons with disabilities

Disagree 5% Agree 95

Curriculum adequately represents the contributions of a variety of groupsDisagree 14%

Agree 86

Compared to other colleges, the UMW environment is more accepting of diverse backgrounds and cultures

Disagree 27% Agree 73

I need to hide some characteristics of who I am to fit in hereDisagree 29%Agree 71