HSU Student Campus Climate Survey fall semester 1995

During spring semester 1994, the California State University (CSU) system administered the Student Needs and Priorities Survey (SNAPS) on its (then) twenty campuses, which included questions regarding the campus climate. Although the results revealed that there was good news concerning Humboldt's students, Dr. Paul Crosbie did find some cause for concern when comparing the responses of White students to the responses of Students of Color. This led to Vice President Edward M. Webb's decision to authorize a follow-up survey of HSU students regarding the campus climate during the fall semester 1995. These survey results have revealed some differences between the ethnic student groups in their university experiences. In particular, African American students appear to be the least satisfied with their university experiences. The African American respondents indicated the most dissatisfaction of all groups with the opportunities on campus to learn about other cultures and to discuss issues related to cultural differences among racial-ethnic groups. This group also revealed the highest percentage of respondents who have either experienced or observed insensitive behavior based on Race and Ethnicity. Review of the campus climates of other universities and the literature concerning student attitudes toward cultural diversity offers some direction for proposed recommendations for the university in addressing this "multicultural tension."