For the first time in eight years, UW Oshkosh is embarking on a survey to gauge campus climate.

No, it’s not a survey about the weather. This survey, says Dr. Sylvia Carey-Butler, is about respect and our values.

Sylvia Carey-Butler

“UW Oshkosh is doing a Campus Climate Survey to measure the campus environment as it relates to interpersonal, academic and professional interactions,” said Carey-Butler, assistant vice chancellor of academic support of inclusive excellence. “The survey will help us evaluate the current campus climate to examine the behaviors, beliefs and experiences of students and employees concerning the level of respect and value for individual differences.”

A campus committee has been meeting for several months to develop and promote the survey. Last fall, the University community was invited to small group sessions to help articulate the issues on campus that would form the basis for the survey.

The survey is now ready to go and will open on Feb. 29 for two weeks. Every student and staff member of the University will receive an email with a link to the survey. To encourage participation, prizes ranging from free parking and textbooks, to iPads and gift certificates are being offered. The prize entry is separate from the survey link to ensure anonymity of survey takers. Everyone who participates will receive a coupon for 25 percent off at University Books & More.

The survey takes time, but it is a vitally important measure of the UWO community’s attitudes, behaviors and standards when it comes to access, inclusion and respect. Members of the survey committee are visiting classrooms to encourage participation. They also will work with students to blanket the university with small flyers the morning of Feb. 29 to remind people the survey is open.

The UWO survey will help the university gain insight and knowledge into how campus stakeholders are experiencing the campus.

Results of the survey will help University leadership develop programs and initiatives to create a more inclusive campus community and enhance UWO’s Inclusive Excellence Plan.

For more information on the survey, reach out to Carey-Butler at careybus@uwosh.edu, Stephanie de Montigny at may@uwosh.edu or Liz Cannon at cannon@uwosh.edu.