Campus Climate Study

Project Timeline

Phase I: May-October 2009

Climate Study Work Group (CSWG)
  • The Climate Study Work Group comprised of faculty, students, and staff from the Lafayette community commissioned the Assessment of Campus Climate and Community for Lafayette College.
  • The CSWG identified Rankin and Associates, Consulting to assist with the assessment.
Fact-finding groups / individual interviews
  • The purpose of the fact-finding groups was to inform the development of questions for the campus-wide survey that will be distributed to all faculty, staff, administrators, and students March 24 – April 9, 2010.
  • The CSWG identified 15 employee and student focus groups and suggested prospective participants.
  • The consultant facilitated the fact-finding groups on Oct. 7, 2009.
  • The results from the fact-finding groups assisted the CSWG in developing survey questions that reflect the unique context at Lafayette College.

Phase II: July-December 2009

Survey instrument
  • The CSWG met every two weeks from June through December to develop the survey instrument.
Communication plan
  • In order to maintain transparency and provide updates to the campus community, the CSWG developed a communication plan.
IRB proposal
  • Dr. James Schaffer, Director of Institutional Research, is the primary investigator for the project and submitted the IRB proposal.
  • The proposal was approved in December 2009.

Phase III: February-May 2010

Survey distribution
  • An invitation to participate in the survey will be forwarded by President Weiss to all students, faculty, and staff at Lafayette College.
  • The survey will be available in both on-line and paper/pencil formats.
Data analysis
  • Data coding, database management and data analysis will be conducted by the consultant.

Phase IV: June-December 2010

Report
  • A written report will be developed by the consultant and shared with the campus community.
  • The report results will be presented to the campus community through a series of town meetings.

Phase V: December 2010-May 2011

Actions
  • Actions will be developed based on the results of the report and other information available to the College to build on the successes and address the challenges at Lafayette.

Questions about the survey should be directed to: Susan R. Rankin, Ph.D., Rankin and Associates, Consulting, P.O. Box 576, Howard, PA 16841, sue@rankin-consulting.com or members of the Climate Study Work Group.