Date of Award
8-2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Applied Sociology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Vander Mey, Brenda J
Committee Member
Wentworth , William M
Committee Member
Luo , Ye
Abstract
Diversity issues are still real and relevant concerns for organizations; university campuses are no exception. This study surveyed the faculty and staff at Clemson University in South Carolina about their experiences with diversity issues and the campus climate. The research question evaluated what influenced employees to have a negative perception of the campus climate. In addition to status characteristics, a respondent's level of cultural competence and exposure to harassment and discrimination were considered. A respondent's race was found to be the most influential of the status characteristics while experiencing harassment or discrimination was also significant. Cultural competence was significant in some models, pointing to the appropriateness of incorporating this relatively new concept into the campus climate literature. Administrators and other stakeholders at the university can use this information when making policy decisions or changes. In addition, the Cultural Competence and Campus Climate Indices created through this study hold promise for subsequent research.
Recommended Citation
Linker, Kelly, "The 2010 Campus Climate Survey: Status Characteristics as Predictors of Campus Climate Perceptions" (2010). All Theses. 912.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/912