Undergraduate Student Assessment of Campus Climate
Demographics:
- Sex - 73.5% females (N=988)
- 26.5% males (N=356)
- Race/ethnicity identification -- 1.3% Asian
- 7.1% African American/Black
- 1.0% Native American
- 1.4% Latino/a
- 85.4% White
- 3.7% other categorizations
- Class standing -- 19.5% freshman (N=262)
- 19.7% sophomore (N=265)
- 22% junior (N=296)
- 38.8% senior (N=521)
Number of courses taken for credit that have focused primarily
on the culture, history, or social concerns of racial and ethnic
groups -
- None - 45.2%
- 1 - 22.2%
- 2 - 13.1%
- 3 - 9.4%
- >3 - 10.1%
Number of courses taken for credit that have focused primarily
on the culture, history, or social concerns of women -
- None - 64.6%
- 1 - 24.9%<
- 2 - 5.0%
- 3 - 3.0%
- >3 - 2.5%
Number of courses taken for credit that have focused primarily
on the culture, history, or social concerns of men -
- None - 70.9%
- 1 - 16.8%
- 2 - 4.4%
- 3 - 2.9%
- >3 - 5.1%
GPA --
- 3.5-4.0 - 27.6% (N=372)
- 3.0-3.49 - 39% (N=525)
- 2.5-2.99 - 22.9% (N=309)
- 2.0-2.49 - 8.8% (N=118)
- < 2.0 - 1.7% (N=23)
College of Major --
- BAS 25.5% (N=338)
- Business 16.5% (N=220)
- Ed and BS 19.5% (N=259)
- LA 19.4% (N=258)
- MC 19% (N=252)
Other Demographics --
- Age - mean of 26.52 and median of 22 years
- First entered MTSU - 33.2% prior to 2000
- First-generation college educated - 32.9%
- US citizens - 99%
- Sexual orientation - 94.5% heterosexual
- Disabled -- 9.4%
- Children under 18 living with student - 16.9%
- Currently an adult caregiver - 3.1%
- Religious faith - 78.7% Christian
- .7% Jewish
- .3% Muslim
- 12.9% none
- 7.3% Other
Setting in which spent most of life prior to first coming to
MTSU --
- 14.7% rural
- 34.3% small town/city
- 26.9% suburb
- 22.9% >50,000
Racial/ethnic composition of neighborhood where grew up --
- 71% mostly homogeneous
- 29% mostly to nearly all different than self
Racial/ethnic composition of high school -
- 59.5% mostly homogeneous
- 40.5% mostly to nearly all different than self
- Racial/ethnic composition of friends -
- 74% nearly homogeneous
- 26% mostly to nearly all different than self
Plans to leave MTSU prior to graduation
Section 1: Experience at MTSU. (NOTE for easy reference
-- questions that differ significantly by sex are
boxed.)
"I feel that I have received adequate guidance from most
faculty members at MTSU."
- 72.7% agree or strongly agree
- 26.1% disagree or strongly disagree
- Native Americans (although only a small number) more than
any other group are dissatisfied with the guidance they have
received.
- Does not differ by sex
- 1.1% don't know
- When controlling for GPA, it is clear that the students with
the highest GPA's were most likely to agree (81%) that
guidance was adequate. Only 61% of those students with <2.5
GPA thought guidance was adequate.
- College of major was not a significant variable of
difference.
"When I have a concern or problem, I feel that there is a
faculty member or administrator at MTSU with who I can
talk."
- 70.2% agree or strongly agree
- 26.2% disagree or strongly disagree
- Native Americans (although only a small number) more than
any other group are dissatisfied with the guidance they have
received.
- Does not differ by sex
- 3.6% don't know
"My current academic advisor is sensitive to my needs and
concerns."
- 53.8% agree or strongly agree
- 28.2% disagree or strongly disagree
- Native Americans most dissatisfied
- Does not differ by sex
- 18.1% don't know
"I often feel that I don't 'fit in' very
well with other students at MTSU"
- 29.8% agree or strongly agree but only 19.1% feel that must
change (question #6)
- 65.4% disagree or strongly disagree
- 4.6% don't know
"I feel that there are enough faculty or administrator role
models for me at MTSU"
- Although 60.2% agree or strongly agree, there is a
significant difference (p=.006) between whites and all other
race/ethnic identifications (whites - 62.7%; all others
- 49.7%). Again Native Americans and African
Americans/Blacks most likely not to agree.
- Does not differ by sex
(see above)
"At MTSU there are many opportunities to socialize with
people different from myself"
- 79% agree or strongly agree and although this is still the
case for racial/ethnic groups other than whites, they are more
statistically more likely to disagree (p=.001 using
Chi-Square)
"I feel that I have the opportunity to succeed at MTSU"
- Although 89.7% agree or strongly agree that this is the case,
a statistically different number of men and r/e minority groups
disagree (12.4% and 17.2%, respectively). Or phrased differently,
more females and whites feel they have an opportunity to
succeed.
"I feel that I have accurate knowledge of scholarships
available to me at MTSU."
- Although approximately 63% of the students overall think they
do not have accurate knowledge of available scholarships, males
are more likely than females to say that they do not know if they
have accurate knowledge (8.3% to 4.1%, respectively).
"The scholarships available at MTSU are fairly distributed
among diverse students at MTSU
- 39.2% do not think they are but 40% don't know.
"In my classes at MTSU, I feel that my professors ignore my
comments and questions."
- Females (81.8%) more than males (74.1%) disagree that their
comments and questions are ignored (p=.003).
"The MTSU/Murfreesboro community offers a variety of social
activities in which I am interested in participating."
- 45% agree, 41.5% disagree, while 13.5% don't know
- Minority members (52.1%) are more likely to disagree than are
whites (39.6), but whites are more likely to say they don't
know (p=.015).
"I feel physically safe at MTSU."
- Approximately 38% of the students feel they are NOT safe.
Females (44.2%) are more likely to feel unsafe than are males
(20.3%) (p=.000).
"I feel emotionally safe at MTSU."
- Approximately 23% report that they do not feel emotionally
safe, but this difference is not explained by sex or minority
membership.
Section 2: The climate at MTSU in general. MTSU
is…
Accessible to people with disabilities
- Nearly 90% think MTSU is mostly to very accessible
- Mean = 1.95 and median = 2.
- Nearly 10% think MTSU is not very accessible
Supportive of people with disabilities
- Nearly 92% think MTSU is mostly to very supportive
- Mean = 1.82 and median = 1.
- Approximately 8% think MTSU is not very supportive
Non-racist
- Nearly 88% think MTSU is non-racist
- Mean = 2.15 and median = 2.
- Minorities are less likely to think MTSU is non-racist,
particularly Asians and Native Americans (approx. 44% and 46%
respectively)
Non-sexist
- Approximately 88% think MTSU to be non-sexist
- Mean = 2.18 and median = 2
- Nearly 12% think MTSU is sexist
Supportive of non-heterosexuals
- Nearly 87% think MTSU is supportive but this support is not
as strong as for the previous questions
- Mean = 2.42 and median = 3
- Approximately 13% think MTSU to be unsupportive
Supportive of different religious beliefs
- Interestingly only 85% think MTSU is supportive of different
religious beliefs, but the support is stronger
- Mean = 2.27 and median = 2.00
- Native Americans and Latino(a) feel MTSU is unsupportive
Supportive of people with dependent children
- Overall 86% think MTSU is supportive
- Mean = 2.29 and median = 2
- Of those who do not think MTSU is supportive, Native
Americans (58%) and Latino(a) (32%) feel the strongest that there
is little support
Supportive of people with dependent adults
- Again, approximately 86% think MTSU is at least moderately
supportive
- Mean = 2.46 and median = 3
- The strongest disagreement comes from the minority groups who
think MTSU is significantly less supportive
Section 3: Climate at MTSU in general:
"Respect by faculty members for students of different racial
and ethnic groups"
- Although the sample as a whole reports respect to be good to
excellent (77.5%), only 67% of minorities do so compared to 79%
of whites.
"Respect by students for faculty of different racial and
ethnic groups"
- Mean = 2.23 and median = 2
- A similar pattern as above is found for this question.
Overall, 71% of the students think faculty receive good to
excellent respect, but again, this is less so for minority
members (60%) vs. whites (73%).
"Racial/ethnic integration on campus"
- Fifty-eight percent of the group thinks integration is good
to excellent. As one might expect, minorities report a
significant difference in that a majority report integration is
only fair to poor (53%) (p<.000).
- Mean = 2.5 and median 2.0
"University commitment to the success of students of
different racial and ethnic groups"
- The majority (66%) report commitment to be good to excellent
but minority groups report commitment less positively (51%) than
do whites (69%).
- Mean = 2.44 and median = 2.
"University commitment to the success of women
students."
- The majority (72%) report good to excellent commitment, but
more women say fair to poor (22%) than do men (11%). More men
report that they do not know the level of commitment (15%).
- More minority members report the commitment to be fair to
poor (31%) than do whites (17%).
- Mean = 2.2 and median = 2.
"University commitment to the success of men students."
- The majority (74%) report good to excellent commitment, but
more men say fair to poor (31%) than do women (9%). More women
report that they do not know the level of commitment (12%).
- Mean = 2.2 and median = 2.
"Friendship between students of different racial and ethnic
groups."
- The majority (61%) report good to excellent.
- Mean = 2.45 and median = 2.
"Racial and ethnic relations in the classroom"
- The majority report good to excellent relations (70%), but
40% of minorities say fair to poor as compared to only 23% of
whites.
- Mean = 2.25 and median = 2
"Interaction among students of different racial and ethnic
groups outside of the classroom."
- There is considerable disagreement as to the quality of
interaction outside the classroom. Forty-seven percent report
good to excellent, while 42% report fair to poor. Nearly 15% of
those who report interaction is poor are minority members. Blacks
report more positively than do other minority groups.
- Forty-eight percent of women report interaction to be good to
excellent compared to 48% of the men report interaction to be
fair to poor (p=.015). Nearly 10% of both groups report that they
do not know the quality or extent of interaction.
- Mean = 2.76 and median = 3.
"University commitment to non-traditional students"
- Approximately 61% of the group think the commitment is good
to excellent, but whites are more positive (63%) than are
minority groups (46%). Native Americans and Latino(a)s are most
critical of MTSU's commitment.
- Mean = 2.48 and median = 2.
"University commitment to disabled students"
- Nearly 78% think the commitment if good to excellent.
- Mean = 2.03 and median = 2.
Section 4: Diversity in major area of study:
"Diversity is good for MTSU and should be actively promoted
by students, staff, faculty, and administration."
- A large majority of students agree or strongly agree with
this statement (89%) but males and females differ in the strength
of their agreement (85% and 90%, respectively; p=.002).
- Mean = 1.6, median = 1
"MTSU is placing too much emphasis on achieving
diversity"
- Overall only 38% agree or strongly agree with this statement,
but males and females differ significantly (p<.000). Females
disagree or strongly disagree that there is too much emphasis
(50% compared to 42% of men) while males agree or strongly agree
to a greater extent (48% compared to 34% of women).
- There is also a significant difference for minorities.
Minorities are more likely to disagree or strongly disagree (77%)
than are whites (45%).
- Mean = 2.99, median = 3
"MTSU has a climate which fosters diversity"
- Most persons (70%) agree or strongly agree that the MTSU
climate fosters diversity, but whites are more positive (72%)
than are minorities (51%).
- Although the majority of females and males agree, more
females (13%) than males (7%) are uncertain about the
climate.
- Mean = 2.4, median = 2.0
"Top university administrators are genuinely committed to
increasing diversity at MTSU"
- Mean = 3.1, median = 2.0
- A small majority of students agree or strongly agree (51%),
but a rather large percent simply are uncertain about the
administrators' level of commitment (37%)
- More minority members disagree (24%) than do whites
(11%).
"Affirmative Action leads to the admission of under qualified
students"
- Mean = 2.88, median = 3.0
- A majority of males (61%) agree or strongly agree, while 54%
of females either disagree or are uncertain (p<.000).
- A similar pattern exists between whites (53%) and minorities
(78%).
- BY MAJOR?
"Faculty members at MTSU are approachable outside of the
classroom"
- The majority find faculty approachable (77%).
- Mean = 2, median = 2
"Faculty members at MTSU attempt to integrate racial/ethnic
issues into courses"
- A small majority agree or strongly agree (55%); whites to a
higher degree (56%) than minorities (45%). Fourteen percent
don't know.
- Mean = 2.68, median = 2
"Faculty members at MTSU attempt to integrate gender issues
into courses"
- A similar percent agree that gender issues are also
integrated into courses (57%). Eleven percent do not know.
- Mean = 2.59, median = 2.
"Faculty members at MTSU attempt to integrate social class
issues into courses"
- The same pattern is found for this question - 58% agree
or strongly agree with 11% uncertain.
- Mean = 2.36, median = 2.
"Faculty and administrators at MTSU seem to be committed to
promoting respect for and understanding of group
differences"
- Again, 68% agree or strongly agree that this is the case,
whites (70%) more so than minorities (52%).
- Mean = 2.59, median = 2.
"All MTSU undergraduates should be required to take at least
one course that focuses on racial/ethnic minorities"
- There are many different opinions on this question. A small
percentage of students strongly agree (18%), 36.5% are torn,
39.6% strongly disagree.
- Mean = 2.97, median = 3.
- Minorities - African Americans in particular - are more
likely to agree (61.5%), while whites are more likely to disagree
(61%).
- Although in a similar direction as the whole group, females
more so than males are positive or torn (p=.002). Females: 18.6%
strongly agree, 39% torn and 36% strongly disagree. Males: 15.7%
strongly agree, 29% torn, and 48% strongly disagree.
- When comparing on the basis of GPA, those students with the
highest were most opposed (65%) while those with less than a 2.5
were the most supportive of this requirement (57%).
- Students whose major is in the liberal arts were the only
ones who supported requiring a course (51%) while those from the
other colleges were opposed with BAS representing the strongest
opposition (67%).
"All MTSU undergraduates should be required to take at least
one course that focuses on women's history, culture, or
perspectives"
- Similar to the previous question, approximately 15% strongly
agree, 39% are torn and 39% strongly disagree.
- Mean = 3.06, median = 3.
- Although in the same direction as the whole group, females
more so than males are positive or torn (p<.000). Females: 16%
strongly agree, 43% torn and 35% strongly disagree. Males: 10%
strongly agree, 31% torn and 52% strongly disagree.
- Minorities are more likely to strongly agree except Native
Americans who are most likely to strongly disagree.
- Although to differing degrees, students at all gpa levels
were opposed to a requirement of taking a course on women.
Seventy-two percent of those with >3.5 gpa down to 50% of
those with <2.5.
- Similarly, the majority of students in each of the colleges
were opposed to a one course requirement. Business college
students were the most opposed (72%) while 56% of the liberal
arts were opposed. Percentages for the other colleges were in
between these percents.
"All MTSU undergraduates should be required to take at least
one course that focuses on issues of social class"
- Mean = 2.9, median = 3.
- Again similar to the previous questions, approximately 16%
strongly agree, 45% are torn and 33% strongly disagree.
- Males and females differ as they did for the previous
questions, a matter of degree not direction. Females: 16%
strongly agree, 47% torn and 31% strongly disagree. Males: 15%
strongly agree, 39% torn and 40% strongly disagree.
- As a group, minorities are slightly more likely to strongly
agree than the whole group of students.
- Similarly to the other "required course" questions, students
with the highest gpa's were most opposed (63%) while those
with <2.5 gpa were most supportive of this requirement
(55%).
- Percentages for students within the different colleges were
not significantly different.
- When it comes to requiring courses that reflect diversity,
this group of students was more likely to feel torn (somewhat
agree and somewhat disagree) that this is a good idea.
"Faculty members at MTSU are fair to all students regardless
of their background"
- Although more positive for whites (64%) than minorities
(47%), the bulk of students agree (61.5%).
- Mean = 2.47, median = 2.
"MTSU provides an adequate program of support for students
who are experiencing academic difficulty"
- Fifty percent agree or strongly agree that there is adequate
support, but there were many students who simply reported that
they did not know the level of support.
- Mean = 2.91, median = 2
- When comparing by gpa, 60% of those students with >3.5 gpa
agreed that there was adequate support. Approximately 48% of all
students with <3.5 gpa agreed that the support was
adequate.
"Students at MTSU have significant input in university
matters"
- Only 7% of students strongly agree. Most students disagree or
strongly disagree (53%).
- Mean = 3.2, median = 3.
"Students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds
participate equally in classroom discussion and activities at
MTSU"
- Mean = 2.39, median = 2.
- Most students agree or strongly agree (65%), but more whites
are positive (67%) than are minorities (51%).
- Percentage wise more females than males agree or strongly
agree (66% - 63%), more males than females disagree (29% - 22%),
and more females than males don't know (12% - 8%).
"MTSU is a good place to gain understanding about
multicultural issues and perspectives"
- The majority agree or strongly agree (57%), but whites are
more positive (59%) than minorities (43%).
- Mean = 2.62, median = 2.
"Murfreesboro is a community in which I feel
comfortable"
- Mean = 1.83, median = 2.
- The vast majority of students agree or strongly agree
(81%).
Section 5: Frequency of being treated unfairly based on
personal characteristics (see table at end of section for
percentages over entire sample)
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your race/ethnicity?"
- Mean = 3.56, median = 4
- Most students reported never (72%) and only 3.2% reported
often. These percentages did differ (p< .000) by minority
status - 76.9% whites said never, while minorities reported
38.2% never and 9.7% often.
- Although following a similar pattern, males did report more
unfair treatment than did females (36% rarely to often and 26%
rarely to often, respectively).
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your gender?"
- Mean = 3.3, median = 4.
- Twenty-one percent reported this has happened "sometimes to
often" but more men than women reported they have never been
treated unfairly due to gender (65% to 51%).
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your sexual orientation?"
- Mean = 3.78, median = 4.
- Although 87% of the students reported never (only 5.5% of the
students claimed to be non-heterosexual), 59% of the Asian
students (N=17) did report some unfair treatment. Obviously the
numbers are very small, but all other race/ethnic groups reported
similar percentages as the whole group, varying around 85%.
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your social class?"
- Mean = 3.57, median = 4.
- Nearly 16% of the students reported this treatment sometimes
(12.6%) to often (3.1%). These findings were fairly consistent
across gender and race/ethnicity.
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your religion?"
- Mean = 3.49, median = 4.
- Nearly 16% also reported unfair treatment sometimes (11.6%)
to often (4.7%). Although the sample was very small, Asian,
Native American, and Hispanic students reported a higher
incidence of unfair treatment.
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your age?
- Mean = 3.39, median = 4.
- Nearly 19% of the students reported unfair treatment
sometimes or often due to age. (Note the median age is 22, with a
mean age of 26.5 years.)
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your accent/dialect?"
- Mean = 3.66, median = 4.
- Only 9% of the students reported unfair treatment sometimes
or often.
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your national origin?"
- Mean = 3.82, median = 4.
- Only 5% of the students reported unfair treatment sometimes
or often.
"How often have you been treated unfairly at MTSU because of
your disability?"
- Mean = 3.83, median = 4.
- Similarly only 5% reported unfair treatment sometimes or
often.
|
Unfair Treatment
|
Race/ Ethnicity
|
Gender
|
Sexual Orientation
|
Class
|
Religion
|
Age
|
Accent
|
Nationality/ Origin
|
Disability
|
|
Often
|
3.2
|
3.5
|
2.9
|
3.1
|
4.7
|
4.7
|
3.6
|
2.4
|
2.1
|
|
Sometimes
|
9.2
|
18.0
|
3.3
|
9.5
|
11.6
|
14.3
|
5.4
|
3.0
|
3.2
|
|
Rarely
|
15.8
|
23.8
|
7.1
|
14.6
|
13.3
|
18.0
|
12.5
|
5.0
|
4.1
|
|
Never
|
71.8
|
54.7
|
86.8
|
72.8
|
70.4
|
63.0
|
78.6
|
89.6
|
90.6
|
Section 6: Frequency of being harassed because of the
following personal characteristics (see table at end of section
for percentages over entire sample)
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
race/ethnicity?"
- Mean = 3.85, median = 4.
- Although 90% of the students reported this never happened to
them, as one might expect less minority students reported never
(74%).
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
gender?"
- Mean = 3.67, median = 4.
- Approximately 78% of the students reported they had never
been harassed, but again as one might expect, 73.5% of the women
and 91.5% of the men reported never (p<.000). Unfortunately
2.2% of the women reported this happened often.
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
sexual orientation?"
- Mean = 3.89, median = 4.
- As reported in the table below, 3.4% of the students reported
being harassed sometimes or often.
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
social class?"
- Mean = 3.85, median = 4.
- Similarly as with sexual orientation, 3.9% of the sample
reported this kind of harassment.
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
religion?"
- Mean = 3.82, median = 4.
- Most students reported never (85%) but approximately 7%
reported sometimes or often.
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
age?"
- Mean = 3.82, median = 4.
- Although the numbers are small, Asian, Native American, and
Hispanic students reported more incidents of harassment due to
age (never - 59%, 77%, and 74%, respectively).
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
accent/dialect?"
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
national origin?"
"How often have you been harassed at MTSU because of your
disability?"
|
Harassed
|
Race/Eth
|
Gender
|
Sexual Orientation
|
Class
|
Religion
|
Age
|
Accent
|
Nationality/ Origin
|
Disability
|
|
Often
|
1.1
|
2.2
|
1.2
|
1.1
|
2.2
|
1.0
|
1.3
|
.8
|
.3
|
|
Sometimes
|
3.3
|
7.3
|
2.2
|
2.8
|
4.5
|
3.1
|
2.3
|
.8
|
1.6
|
|
Rarely
|
5.4
|
12.2
|
3.5
|
5.6
|
8.8
|
8.9
|
5.0
|
2.7
|
2.3
|
|
Never
|
90.2
|
78.3
|
93.1
|
90.5
|
84.6
|
87.1
|
91.3
|
95.7
|
95.7
|
Section 7: Frequency of perception "not free to voice
true opinion" in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU
about different groups (see table at end of section for
percentages of the entire sample)
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning race/ethnic minorities?"
- Mean = 3.16, median = 4.
- Approximately 45% reported this had happened rarely to often,
but the rates did not vary by minority status or gender.
Unfortunately in a university environment, this suggests that for
many of us there are times when we feel constrained in our speech
about minorities.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning women?"
- Mean = 3.35, median = 4.
- Comparably the students reported more freedom to voice issues
about women than minorities, but the differences were not
explained by minority or gender status. And again, the findings
suggest that nearly 38% of the students felt some
constraint.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning men?"
- Mean 3.49, median = 4.
- As a group, students felt more freedom to voice opinions
about men (71%) than women or minorities. Again, the differences
were not explained by gender or minority status.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning non-heterosexuals?"
- Mean = 3.28, median = 4.
- Similar to freedom to voice opinions about minorities and
women, 10% of the students often felt constrained in voicing
their opinions about non-heterosexuals.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning people with disabilities?"
- Mean = 3.62, median = 4.
- Over all the groups, students felt the least constrained (77%
reported never) than any other group. This might suggest that
being disabled is less controversial, therefore more open for
discussion than other groups on campus.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning individuals with different national
origins?"
- Mean = 3.5, median = 4.
- Perhaps in response to the lingering impact of terrorism
threats, approximately 29% of the students felt somewhat
constrained in their freedom to their opinions.
"How often have you felt that you were not free to voice your
true opinion in classrooms or other public settings at MTSU about
issues concerning religious groups?"
- Mean = 3.2, median = 4.
- Similar to the constraints felt by students concerning issues
about minorities, 42% of the students felt constraint concerning
issues of religion. White students were more likely to say
sometimes or rarely (33%) than were minority students (22%).
|
Not free to voice
|
r/e monitoring
|
women
|
men
|
non-heterosexuals
|
people with disabilities
|
diff. nat. origins
|
religious groups
|
|
Often
|
10.2
|
6.3
|
5.3
|
10.6
|
3.8
|
5.3
|
10.7
|
|
Sometimes
|
18.7
|
14.9
|
11.5
|
14.3
|
7.8
|
10.5
|
16.3
|
|
Rarely
|
15.7
|
16.6
|
12.6
|
11.8
|
11.5
|
13.0
|
15.4
|
|
Never
|
55.3
|
62.1
|
70.6
|
63.2
|
77.0
|
71.2
|
57.7
|
Section 8: Frequency of reading, hearing, or seeing
insensitive or negative comments or material at MTSU about
different groups (see table at end for percentages of entire
sample of students).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about race/ethnic
minorities?
- Mean = 3.23, median = 4.
- A slim majority of the students (53%) reported never on this
question, but the responses do differ by sex. Men are more likely
to witness at least some (rarely, sometimes or often) negative
comments or material (44.5%) than are women (39.5%).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about women?"
- Mean = 3.25, median = 4.
- A similar percentage as for other minorities, 54% of the
students reported never having read, seen or heard such comments
or material. Obviously this implies that 46% have, but the
findings do not differ by sex.
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about men?"
- Mean = 3.56, median = 4.
- Although most students responded never (71%), men were more
likely to have witnessed insensitivity or negativity (37%) about
men than were women (26%).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about
non-heterosexuals?"
- Mean = 3.14, median = 3.
- About 50% of the students have and 50% have not witnessed
insensitivity or negativity about non-heterosexuals, but this
does differ by sex. Women were less likely to witness this
negativity than men (52% to 43%, respectively).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about people with
disabilities?"
- Mean = 3.61, median = 4.
- Again, most students reported never having read, seen or
heard insensitivity or negativity about people with disabilities
(72%). Of those who did witness such negativity it was rarely so
(18%).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about individuals from
different national origins?"
- Mean = 3.34, median = 4.
- Approximately 41% of the students reported having read, seen
or heard some negativity, but most of this was rarely so
(21%).
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about religious
groups?"
- Mean 3.14, median = 4.
- Approximately 49% of the students reported having read, seen
or heard some negativity, and most reported "sometimes."
"How often have you read, heard, or seen insensitive or
negative comments or material at MTSU about older students?"
- Mean = 3.48, median = 4.
- Approximately 66% reported never having heard, seen, or read
negativity.
|
Negativity or insensitivity
|
r/e minorities
|
women
|
men
|
non-heterosexuals
|
people w/ disabilities
|
diff. national
|
religious groups
|
older students
|
|
Often
|
5.9
|
5.5
|
2.8
|
8.4
|
1.7
|
4.4
|
7.7
|
3.2
|
|
Sometimes
|
18.2
|
17.9
|
9.6
|
19.1
|
8.1
|
15.4
|
21.0
|
12.1
|
|
Rarely
|
22.6
|
22.2
|
16.3
|
22.5
|
18.0
|
21.4
|
20.5
|
18.4
|
|
Never
|
53.2
|
54.3
|
71.3
|
49.9
|
72.1
|
58.8
|
50.8
|
66.4
|
Section 9: Treatment from various groups across campus.
(The seven question percentages will be reported in a table
format for ease of presentation. Highest % is in bold.) Overall,
a large majority of students report fair treatment.
|
Treatment by group
|
residence hall personnel
|
professors
|
TA
|
admin
|
staff
|
other students
|
M'boro
|
|
Very fairly
|
20.2
|
45.9
|
35.2
|
36.4
|
45.1
|
44.2
|
43.6
|
|
SW fairly
|
13.5
|
41.1
|
27.1
|
34.6
|
38.7
|
43.2
|
37.0
|
|
SW unfairly
|
5.1
|
10.1
|
6.3
|
9.4
|
7.4
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
|
Very unfairly
|
3.1
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
3.7
|
2.8
|
2.2
|
2.7
|
|
No Experience
|
58.1
|
.8
|
29.2
|
16
|
6.0
|
2.2
|
9.1
|
Section 10: Feelings of safety (reported in %)
Note: For each of the following questions of safety,
responses differed by sex. Male and female responses for "very
safe" feelings are shown in bold on the bottom two rows of the
table. Males consistently report feeling more safe than females,
especially walking across campus, attending evening activities,
and in the parking lots.
|
Safety in
|
classrooms
|
library
|
KUC
|
rec center
|
Murphy center
|
prof. offices
|
walking across campus
|
evening
|
parking lots
|
|
Not Safe
|
2.3
|
2.5
|
3.1
|
2.5
|
3.2
|
2.7
|
12.1
|
18.3
|
26.1
|
|
2
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
2.9
|
2.3
|
5.7
|
1.4
|
16.8
|
22.3
|
23.3
|
|
3
|
3.3
|
5.3
|
12.1
|
6.2
|
12.8
|
4.7
|
24.1
|
17.6
|
19.3
|
|
4
|
14.1
|
16.5
|
23.7
|
17.8
|
20.9
|
18.0
|
22.1
|
15.3
|
15.0
|
|
Very Safe
|
77.8
|
71.2
|
56.0
|
54.7
|
43.9
|
68.9
|
23.7
|
17.1
|
14.9
|
|
1) male
|
82.7
|
81.0
|
68.5
|
63.9
|
59.9
|
78.4
|
47.2
|
40.9
|
34.7
|
|
2) female
|
76.1
|
67.9
|
51.4
|
51.4
|
38.2
|
65.1
|
15.1
|
8.6
|
7.7
|
|
NA
|
1.6
|
2.5
|
2.3
|
16.5
|
13.5
|
4.8
|
1.3
|
9.3
|
1.3
|
Section 11: Actions relative to diversity
"In the past year, how often have you challenged others on
racially/ethnically derogatory comments?"
- A large percentage (34.5%) reported not having an opportunity
to challenge others, while another 26% reported never doing so.
Only 25% reported either sometimes or often doing so.
"In the past year, how often have you challenged others on
sexually derogatory comments?"
- Similar to the percentages above, 31% of students reported
that they had no opportunity to challenge others on these
comments, and another 26% said that they never did so.
- Women reported having less opportunities, but when they did
have an opportunity, 60% of the women responded that they
sometimes or often challenged the comments. Men reported having
slightly more opportunities than women to challenge comments.
When they had an opportunity, 61% of the males reported sometimes
or often challenging the comments.
"In the past year, how often have you made a derogatory
comment or joke about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or transgendered
persons?"
- Of those who thought this question had applicability to them,
65% of women compared to 42% of men never made negative comments.
Men (9%) more frequently reported often making negative comments,
while only 3% of women did so.
"In the past year, how often have you developed friendships
with people from different cultures or groups?"
- Most students reported they sometimes (40.6%) or often
(38.5%) developed friendships with persons from different
cultural groups. This was more likely to be often (53%) among
minority members than among whites (36% often).
"In the past year, how often have you made a derogatory
statement or joke about a religion or religious beliefs other
than your own?"
- Most of the students (51%) reported never making a derogatory
statement or joke, while 12.4% reported sometimes or often doing
so.
"In the past year, how often have you refused to participate
in comments or jokes that are derogatory to any group, culture,
or gender?"
- Most students reported often (27.3%) or sometimes (25.2%)
refusing to participate, while 11% reported they never refused
and 12% rarely refused.
- Minorities, as one might expect, were more likely to often
refuse to participate (36%) than whites (25%).
"In the past year, how often have you taken action to have
offensive graffiti removed?"
- Many of the students (49%) reported not having an opportunity
to take such action, while only 2.5% sometimes or often took such
action.
"In the past year, how often have you made a derogatory
statement or joke about persons with disabilities?"
- Most students neither had the opportunity nor didn't
take an opportunity to make a derogatory statement or joke (88%).
Men were slightly more likely to sometimes or often make a
derogatory statement or joke than were women (11.5% to 6.3%,
respectively).
"In the past year, how often have you attended non-classroom
programs or activities about gender or issues related to
women?"
- Only 13% reported sometimes or often attending such
activities. Surprisingly, nearly 30% reported NA, which I assume
means they did not know about such events.
- Women were slightly more likely to report attending these
events than were men.
"In the past year, how often have you attended non-classroom
programs or activities about the history, culture, or social
concerns of various racial and ethnic groups?"
- Similarly only 14% reported having attended such events while
35% were unaware of their opportunities.
"In the past year, how often have you made a derogatory
statement or joke about a person's age?"
- Most students reported NA or never making such statements or
jokes (75%).
"In the past year, how often have you made a derogatory
statement or joke about a person's racial identity?"
- Overall, most students reported never making such negative
statements or jokes (82%).
- Males (30%) were slightly more likely than females (14%) to
ever make a derogatory statement or joke.
Section 12: Familiarity about programs and services
offered at MTSU.
|
Very Familiar
|
Somewhat familiar
|
Somewhat unfamiliar
|
Not at all familiar
|
|
JAWC*
|
5.2
|
21.9
|
15.9
|
56.9
|
|
Sexual assault awareness week*
|
3.6
|
22.4
|
18.9
|
55.1
|
|
Multicultural affairs
|
6.5
|
17.0
|
20.7
|
55.9
|
|
Disabled student services
|
18.2
|
32.2
|
18.2
|
31.2
|
|
Adult services center
|
12.2
|
23.2
|
16.8
|
47.7
|
|
Lambda
|
3.8
|
13.0
|
15.0
|
68.2
|
|
Study Abroad
|
8.0
|
27.7
|
24.7
|
39.5
|
|
African American Studies
|
5.9
|
20.3
|
23.3
|
50.5
|
|
Global Studies
|
4.0
|
13.2
|
22.9
|
60.0
|
|
Women's Studies*
|
10.2
|
30.4
|
21.9
|
37.6
|
|
Aging Studies
|
3.3
|
10.3
|
19.6
|
66.8
|
|
Statement of community standard of civil behavior
|
1.7
|
4.9
|
12.9
|
80.5
|
|
McNair scholars program
|
5.0
|
11.1
|
19.3
|
64.6
|
|
NWHM*
|
8.5
|
24.5
|
19.6
|
47.4
|
|
AAHM
|
10.3
|
24.2
|
21.1
|
44.5
|
|
Center for Dyslexia
|
5.6
|
16.5
|
23.6
|
54.2
|
* Differs by sex. Females more familiar than males.