There are significant diversity, equity and inclusion strengths across the university community, according to data from the George Washington University’s Diversity Program Review climate survey.
Responses to the survey show that community members felt that at GW, they had found a community where they belonged, and that there is a culture of mutual support. Students, faculty and staff demonstrated that they are personally invested in the diversity of the GW community and strongly agreed that increasing the diversity of the GW community is an important goal for the university.
As part of the ongoing Diversity Program Review process, Provost Christopher Alan Bracey and Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement Caroline Laguerre-Brown will host community forums on Tuesday and Wednesday to provide an overview of results from the survey, administered in spring 2022, and give the community an opportunity to share feedback.
Members of the community can attend either in-person or virtually. Information about attending the forums is available here.
“We have a shared responsibility to ensure that the George Washington University is a welcoming, inclusive and equitable community, where all can feel empowered to learn, research and thrive. The enthusiastic participation in the climate survey, and the survey’s results, show that GW’s focus on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion is a critical component of achieving inclusive excellence,” Bracey said.
The climate survey was designed to assist GW with gathering information about the university climate related to diversity, equity and inclusion for students, faculty and staff and inform the recommendations in the diversity action plan that will be submitted to university leadership at the conclusion of the Diversity Program Review process.
The survey also identified opportunities for improvement, including responding to negative treatment experienced by community members and addressing financial and economic concerns, as well as further strengthening the university’s emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“The identified areas for improvement are critical insight into how GW can best support the community in ways that will have a positive impact on the student, faculty and staff experience,” Laguerre-Brown said.
In the community forums, representatives from the Office of Survey Research and Analysis will present on how the survey was developed and administered to students, faculty and staff. Bracey and Laguerre-Brown will share identified areas of strength and opportunities for improvement among the entire GW community as well as provide a breakdown of findings among undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty.