Frequently Asked Questions

Survey Details

The Campus Climate Survey opened on May 8 and was available through May 25. The survey was entirely voluntary. Participation was encouraged to provide an accurate picture of our campus climate. Partial responses were included once the survey closed.

Responding to the survey was not the same as filing a report of discrimination, harassment, or abuse. If you wish to file a report—with your name or anonymously—you may do so here.

Support and resources are available to all members of our community. If you wish to talk to anyone, a list of resources available to you appears throughout the survey as well as on this website, on the UChicago CARES website, and on the Campus and Student Life website.

Why is the University conducting this survey?

Diversity and inclusion have fundamental significance for our University because of our commitment to a culture of rigorous and open inquiry, which demands a rich mix of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. It is crucial that we continue to cultivate a campus climate that welcomes talented faculty, students, and staff of all backgrounds, and that we reject bias, discrimination, and harassment that can threaten that culture and the individuals within it. The climate survey will help us understand what is already going well in these areas, and where we can enhance our efforts to support a diverse and inclusive campus community.

Was this the same as filing a report of discrimination or harassment?

Responding to the survey was not the same as filing a report of discrimination, harassment, or abuse. If you wish to file a report—with your name or anonymously—you may do so here.

Who created and implemented this survey?

An advisory committee including University of Chicago faculty, staff, and students, chaired by Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Vice Provost and Professor at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, guided the development and implementation of the 2023 Campus Climate Survey, with input from the Office of Institutional Analysis.

Who was invited to respond?

All University of Chicago faculty, other academic appointees, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff were invited to participate in the survey. 

Was the survey confidential or anonymous?

Survey responses were confidential, but not anonymous. Survey answers will also be linked to some demographic and institutional data from University systems to aid subpopulation analysis.

Survey data will be connected with the following demographic and institutional variables from University systems:

  • All respondents:
    • Gender in system of record
    • Race/ethnicity in system of record
    • U.S. citizenship and residence status 
    • Work or study modality (in-person vs. remote) 
  • Students only:
    • Program of study
    • Year in program
    • On-campus/off-campus residence status
  • Faculty only:
    • Department of primary appointment
    • Type of academic appointment (rank/track)
    • Tenure status 
  • Staff:
    • Department
    • General job category

Once this process of linking data is complete, data will be stored without identifiers. However, combinations of demographic variables may make it possible to identify some respondents. The research team members with access to the full dataset are:

  • Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Vice Provost and Professor at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice 
  • Will Greenland, Assistant Provost for Institutional Analysis
  • Mike Hanus, Senior Institutional Analyst
  • Michelle Hoereth, Assistant Provost

Whenever results from the survey are reported outside this group, it will be done in such a way as to ensure that individual respondents cannot be identified. In particular, statistical tables will suppress cell sizes smaller than five, and open-ended comments will be edited as necessary before being included in reports to prevent respondent identification.

Please note that open-ended comments will not be connected with your identity, which means that the research team will not be able to respond to threats of harm to self or others. A link to support services appears throughout the survey and is also available here.

What will the University do with the results?

The survey committee is in the process of compiling the data and will provide updates through University communications channels. The survey is intended to provide essential information to guide the University’s efforts on these issues.

Will the survey results be shared with the campus community?

Yes, the University will release survey findings in the aggregate to the University community in Winter 2024 via a report that will be publicly available on the University’s Diversity & Inclusion website.