At Chemeketa, we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. And to inform us in that effort, we launched our first climate survey in 2020. The results helped inform our new strategic plan, including our values, themes, initiatives, and the work of the Diversity Advisory Council. 

We are launching the campus climate survey again starting February of 2024. It is a best practice to conduct climate surveys on a regular basis to assess improvements and opportunities for growth. The results of the survey will continue to guide our planning and future actions.

The campus climate survey will guide the diversity, equity and inclusion work at the college and in doing so:

• Help position the college to serve our increasingly diverse student body
• Promote a positive campus climate for all
• Foster a welcoming and productive work environment that leads to effective and innovative student-centered practices

Message from President Howard

Since the creation and implementation of Chemeketa’s first diversity plan in 1995, many of you have been, and continue to be involved in promoting an inclusive environment at the college that values diversity.

Indeed, Chemeketa has made commendable progress in attracting and retaining an increasingly diverse student body, promoting inclusive practices at our locations, and providing related professional development opportunities for staff, faculty, and students.  This work is ongoing, expanding, and increasingly critical as our student body continues to become more diverse — not only demographically, but in terms of life experiences, many of which significantly challenge the opportunity for our students to achieve academic success.  

In 2020, we contracted with consulting firms Global Leadership Solutions, LLC and Transcend Consulting Group, LLC to work hand in hand with the college community to effectively develop an equity and inclusion plan for Chemeketa that centered the results of a climate survey.  This year, we are using the same survey instrument to be able to track our progress and celebrate our successes, update the roadmap that resulted from the previous survey, and identify areas for improvement.

The most recent survey shed light on key areas of focus and underscored the significance of an inclusive work environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute. This emphasis on inclusion was further reinforced during the strategic planning process, which culminated in the creation of five new values: adaptability, belonging, community, opportunity, and quality. This academic year, our primary focus is on the value of belonging. We aim to explore its implications and how it can guide our work and shape our desired culture.

It will be critical to hear from an equitable representation of all voices so that our collective action effectively influences the culture we would like to foster at Chemeketa.

Timeline

• January 2024 - Climate survey plan reviewed with Diversity Advisory Council leadership
• February 2024 - Survey launches and administered by IR
• March 2024 - IR compiles survey results
• April 2024 - Preliminary review of results - summary shared with planning department - data to inform planning process
• September 2024 - Survey results shared at in-service