To the Students, Faculty and Staff of the 探花社区:
Last spring we invited you to participate in a university-wide survey assessing our strengths and weaknesses with regard to campus climate, inclusion and free expression.
Thousands of you took time to share your thoughts on how we鈥檙e doing. We thank each of you for helping to build an even stronger 探花社区.
We have received results from Gallup, which developed and conducted the survey for us, and we wanted to share them with you in advance of their public release. You may read Gallup鈥檚 executive summary and full report on our website.
鈥淵our candor will help us get better. Campuses can now study these results, engaging their students, faculty and staff in conversations about how best to move forward.鈥
All leading universities exist to create spaces for different people and ideas to collide in ways that challenge and broaden individuals鈥 thinking. In this respect, the 探花社区 is doing many things well. You reported positive views about the safety, civility and overall climate of our campuses. Where broad comparisons can be made, we compare well in the national landscape. Majorities of you believe the university is committed to freedom of expression and inclusivity, and majorities also say you鈥檝e had opportunities to learn from people who are different from yourself.
At the same time, you identified opportunities for improvement 鈥 as we would have expected for a university of our size and diversity. While our racial climate is viewed positively overall, for example, minority groups are less likely to say we鈥檙e doing well. You also indicated a desire for more clear and transparent communication from us, particularly about the direction of the university.
Your candor will help us get better. Campuses can now study these survey results, engaging their students, faculty and staff in conversations about how best to move forward. Next steps will necessarily vary by campus. Each of us welcomes the opportunity to build on good work already being done to make the 探花社区 the best possible place to teach, serve and learn.
We are not the only university facing these issues. Many colleges and universities are asking themselves these same questions. We know we have work ahead, and we should be proud that we have been willing to take a hard look at ourselves and use what we鈥檝e learned to better serve our students and all Nebraskans. We are grateful to you for your contributions to this important conversation.
Thank you for all you do on behalf of the 探花社区.
Sincerely,
Hank Bounds, Ph.D.
President, 探花社区
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Chancellor, 探花社区 Medical Center and 探花社区 at Omaha
Ronnie D. Green, Ph.D.
Chancellor, 探花社区-Lincoln
Doug Kristensen, J.D.
Chancellor, 探花社区 at Kearney