Michigan Engineering completed the university-wide climate survey conducted by U-M’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) in the fall of 2017 and 2021. ODEI worked with SoundRocket, a third-party vendor, to administer the survey and significant measures were taken to safeguard the confidentiality of all respondents.
The two surveys were not designed to be longitudinal, and they do not survey the same people since our community changes frequently. As a result, it is not an exact comparison of how attitudes have changed, but it does provide a snapshot of campus based on who responded each time.
The 2017 survey was issued at the beginning of the DEI 1.0 strategic plan. At the time of the 2021 survey, Michigan Engineering faculty, staff and students were still impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 survey results will help Michigan Engineering understand the present climate and inform our upcoming DEI 2.0 efforts.
Considerations for comparing baseline data
While similar, the 2017 and 2021 surveys were not designed to compare longitudinally at the Unit level. The following must be considered in looking at these data:
- Questionnaire changes could have introduced order and context effects
- Data collection in 2017 took place over a year (spring through fall)—2021 took place all in the fall
- Environmental influences: US Presidential Election in the Fall 2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 should be considered in evaluating differences
- Unit-level estimates do not include nonresponse adjustments or weights
- Response rates fluctuated considerably between units and over time, increasing the likelihood of nonresponse bias influencing results at either (or both) times
Populations surveyed
- Student: Includes undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree-granting traditional or online programs as of September 20, 2021
- Staff: Includes all permanently employed staff at U-M. Staff of affiliated U-M units and temporary staff were not included in this survey employed as of September 20, 2021
- Special faculty: Includes lecturers, postdocs, museum curators, house officers, and other primary or supplemental faculty employed as of September 20, 2021
- Faculty: Includes those who are tenured, and tenure-, research-, and clinical-track employed as of September 20, 2021