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Campus Climate Assessment & Listening Session Results Summary

In March 2024, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Data Subcommittee prepared a Share-Out of our 2023 Campus Climate Assessment and Listening Session results to distribute to the campus community.

In 2021, The Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 5227 (SB 5227), requiring institutions of higher education to collect data on diversity, education, and inclusion within their campus communities.The resulting RCW 28B.10.147 mandates that colleges and universities collect this data through the regular implementation of listening sessions and campus climate assessment (CCA) surveys. In 2023, Centralia College engaged in its first round of data collection and launched the ongoing campus climate assessment survey and listening sessions. Based on the timeline established by RCW 28B.10.147, the surveys will be conducted every five years, and the listening sessions will be conducted annually, during periods between campus climate assessments.

Spring 2024 - Roots of Us Session

The following is the 2023-24 listening session report. The Roots of Us consultants facilitated listening circles with students and staff in June 2024. Dr. Jen Self, a consultant with The Roots of Us, communicated the following. 

“…this data is about depth, not breadth. From the circles, you are able to get deeper understanding of the participants' experiences. It is not meant to be generalizable to the entire population, but that is key importance because frequently institutions generalize to norms, and this is meant to catch the experiences that frequently go unheard.” 

The participation of 15 staff members and 5 students in the 2024-25 listening sessions underscores the diversity of experiences within the community. These sessions are seen as valuable opportunities to embrace challenges and continue fostering Cultural Humility through lifelong learning and self-reflection. This commitment to understanding and valuing diverse perspectives is crucial for the growth and inclusivity of the Centralia College community.

Read the Report (pdf)

2023 - Initial Sessions

The responses received during this first round provided important baseline information to guide campus-wide efforts to improve the campus climate and to which to compare future results.

The Data Subcommittee is deeply appreciative of the experiences and perspectives shared by those who participated in the CCA and/or a listening session. While the overall response rates were lower than hoped, the information shared is an important reflection of the campus climate as experienced by those participants and respondents.

Read the JEDI Data Subcommittee Share-Out (pdf)

Analysis of the CCA and Listening Session results revealed three areas of concern:

  1. Students, faculty, and staff are experiencing harm, and this harm has disproportionate impacts.
  2. Some people have considered leaving Centralia College because of experiencing harm.
  3. Employees report a lack of accountability, transparency, and action in addressing campus issues, resulting in a lack of trust.

Centralia College intends to address the CCA and listening session findings. Step one involves communicating and sharing results across campus and with the community. Step two will address gaps and needs across campus. Step three will identify actionable steps necessary to create diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus.

Additional Resources

We realize that some of the questions asked, and content shared may provoke strong emotional reactions.  We have provided a list of supportive and educational resources. Should you decide you need assistance, talking with a trusted support person or a confidential professional may help. Please utilize the campus, local, and crisis support resources listed.

 

Further Reading(s)

Explore these collected resources at the Kirk Library for further learning.