Toward Civility: Assessment as a Means toward Improving Campus Climate. (1998)

This article presents assessment as a means toward systematically gauging the climate and culture of colleges and universities across America. The paper is presented in three parts. The reader is first provided with a brief review of two key historical factors which impact today's concept of diversity. Next, the paper will address three major questions: How many incidents related to race, gender, and sexual orientation has the Chronicle of Higher Education reported over the past three years? Where or in what part of the country are the reported incidents occurring, and who are the targets of this tension? In the final section, assessment will be discussed as a means toward systematically gauging campus climate. A complex and perplexing issue, the author argues that diversity is an institutional responsibility. While colleges and universities across the nation understand the underlying challenge of an increasingly diverse campus, overall resistance to equity and inclusion remains a crucial stumbling block. How can colleges and universities affect changes in campus culture, climate, and those daily practices that impede student success? Drawing upon previous work on race relations, inequality, and campus diversity, the goal of this study is to assess reported incidents of campus tensions that relate to race, gender, and sexual orientation as reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education between 1994-1997. Assessment will then be discussed as a means toward systematically gauging the climate and culture of colleges and universities across America. One of the greatest challenges for American higher education is to develop a healthy campus climate where opportunities for learning include cultural appreciation and reciprocity among people of diverse backgrounds. Many American colleges and universities have responded to acts of discrimination and intolerance by revisiting missions, implementing policy, and broadening their academic curricula. However, as evidenced by this study, disrespect for others and discriminatory behavior continue to plague the academy. It is the responsibility of the institution to maintain an environment where participants are able to achieve their potential regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation. This study takes a glimpse at the current climate for these areas and validates the need for more research and responsibility from the college. We must begin to monitor ourselves. Positive actions toward civility must become a natural part of the culture rather than a special program or opportunity. This Notion Called Diversity Due to limitations, this study will focus on two major contributions to the current concept of diversity in higher education: The promotion of democracy through the work of Thomas Jefferson and the impact of the Civil Rights movement. Across the United States and particularly within higher education, separation by race, gender, and class has a long history. Even though Americans hoped that colleges would serve a wider community, in general, full inclusion and access to higher education has never been a part of the college campus culture. This culture of exclusion began with the colonial colleges and continues today as evidenced from data presented in this article. Democracy and the Influence of Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was a product of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment and of an era that is uniquely American. He was born in 1743 to a wealthy planterclass of slave owners who dominated the social fabric and politics of colonial Virginia. He enjoyed the security of inherited wealth and the confidence of an assured social position. Jefferson's platform included what were considered entitlements for free-born Englishmen, including the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (Gutek, 1991). Concerned with advancing the literacy among citizens of the republic, Jefferson introduced three educational bills. Two worth mentioning are the need for greater diffusion of knowledge to more people and the effort to amend the charter of William and Mary to remove theological control so as to modernize the curriculum. …