Why is Wayne State conducting a climate study?

Campus culture and climate studies are an emerging best practice in higher education institutions. Wayne State implemented its first campus climate survey in Winter 2018 to develop a picture of how well our institution values all its members. As a result, Wayne State has focused on continuing to develop an inclusive culture and climate with several campus-wide initiatives.  The university is committed to an environment that respects the needs of all WSU students, faculty and staff.

Who will be conducting the survey?

Wayne State's Campus Climate Study Committee is charged with overseeing the campus culture and climate study and related issues. This cross-section of staff and faculty selected Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys to aid in the development of the survey. The survey will be administered using the Qualtrics survey platform and will be sent to the university community by climatestudy2023@wayne.edu. Qualtrics is a trusted Wayne State partner with whom the university has an approved enterprise license. The survey invite and all reminder emails will appear as flagged external messages because they are sent using the Qualtrics distribution tool. 

Will there be prizes for individuals participating in the study?

Yes. Participants have the opportunity to win one of several prizes. Upon survey completion, you will be asked if you want to participate in a raffle. Those interested in participating will be provided with a separate form to share their contact information that will be used for the raffle. Winners will be selected at random after the survey is closed and will be notified of their winnings in April 2024. Each winner is eligible for a maximum of one prize.

How are the survey questions developed?

Viewfinder® Campus Climate Surveys has extensive experience with conducting higher education climate studies and developed a repository of tested questions that helped guide our study design, survey and assessment process.  We also drew from our 2018 climate survey for benchmark items to assess our progress as a campus. Further, we have been engaged in ongoing conversations with various stakeholders on campus regarding the content and focus of the survey.

How will the results be used?

The data team of the Campus Climate Study Committee will receive and analyze the aggregated data (without identification). A report based on preliminary analysis of this data will inform the development of further action steps. All WSU stakeholders:  faculty, staff and students will be invited to review the findings and participate in the development of post-survey action initiatives. The Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Work Group will oversee the follow-up of post-survey strategic priorities and action steps.

What is the response rate goal?

Our target response rate for the survey is 100 percent. Each response matters. Everyone's participation is valuable in providing the most authentic and beneficial feedback and results.

Is it confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is critical to the success of our campus culture and climate study, especially as it centers on sensitive and personal issues. The Campus Climate Study Committee is utilizing the Qualtrics Survey platform, which meets strict security and privacy standards. No personally identifiable information is included in the survey data. Analyses will be conducted by the data team of the committee and reports based on aggregated data only. For further security, only two members of the team (Loraleigh Keashly and Elizabeth McQuillen) will have access to the final dataset, which will be stored in a secure location. 

Which version of the survey should I complete?

There are two versions of the survey to capture student and employee responses separately. If you hold both student and employee positions, please complete the survey corresponding to your primary role at Wayne State University. 

What should I do if I haven't received the email invite to participate?

The invitation was sent by climatestudy2023@wayne.edu. using Qualtrics, a trusted Wayne State University partner with whom the university has an approved enterprise license. The email appears as a flagged external message because it is being sent from within Qualtrics and not Outlook, our internal email application.

If you have not received an invitation, please check your spam folder. If the invite is not in your spam folder, please email climatestudy2023@wayne.edu.

What if I need assistance to complete the survey?

If you require accommodations or assistance completing the survey, please contact Loraleigh Keashly, Chair of the Campus Climate Study Committee at climatestudy2023@wayne.edu. Students may request assistance through Student Disability Services (SDS) as well by calling 313-577-1851 or emailing studentdisability@wayne.edu.