Dr. Susan Rankin of Rankin Climate, which is serving as the outside consultant for Northland College’s DEIS Climate Study, defines campus climate as “the current attitudes, behaviors, standards, and practices of employees and students of an institution.” The climate is often shaped through experiences, perceptions, and institutional efforts.

Dr. Rankin’s research maintains that positive personal experiences with campus climate and positive perceptions of campus climate generally equate to successful outcomes. Examples of successful outcomes include positive educational experiences and healthy identity development for students, productivity and sense of value for faculty and staff, and overall well-being for all.

The DEIS Charge issued by the College’s Board of Trustees called for conducting a study. In addition, it’s imperative to assess the current environment to inform where improvements can be made.

The DEIS Task Force’s Climate Working Group was charged with spearheading Northland College’s DEIS Climate Study. After a review of potential vendors, the institution selected Rankin Climate to conduct the climate project. Rankin Climate reports directly to the Climate Work Group.

Dr. Susan Rankin (Rankin Climate) is the consultant overseeing this project. Dr. Rankin is an emeritus faculty member of Education Policy Studies and College Student Affairs at The Pennsylvania State University and a senior research associate in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. She has extensive experience in institutional climate assessment and institutional climate transformation based on data-driven action and strategic planning. Dr. Rankin has conducted multi-location institutional climate studies at more than two hundred institutions across the country. She developed and utilizes the Transformational Tapestry model as a research design for campus climate studies. The model is a “comprehensive, five-phase strategic model of assessment, planning and intervention. The model is designed to assist campus communities in conducting inclusive assessments of their institutional climate to better understand the challenges facing their respective communities.” (Rankin & Reason, 2008).

In reviewing efforts by other universities to conduct comprehensive climate studies, the Climate Work Group identified several best practices. One was the need for external expertise in this type of project administration. A project of this type, relating to a very sensitive subject like campus climate, is likely to yield better results and provide more credible findings if led by an independent, outside partner. Some members of a college community may feel particularly unable to respond honestly to a project administered by their own institution for fear of retaliation.

The consultant will present the project findings to the campus community toward the begging of Fall Term in 2023.

Your questions and comments are very important as we move through this process. You can share questions or feedback any time by contacting the assistant dean for inclusive excellence.