April 7, 2008

Dear Carleton Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I write to ask each of you to commit to taking the Carleton College Campus Climate Survey (https://online.survey.psu.edu/carleton). At Carleton, we value nothing more than the quality of the academic experience we offer to all our students and the quality of life on campus for all of us. As we aim to be an ever finer college, it will serve us well to reflect for a moment on where we are: our collective strengths and our particular challenges. Inclusive of our entire community, this survey invites all students, faculty, and staff to reflect on our individual experiences and perceptions of Carleton. Please know that every voice counts, and in no small way, your participation in this climate survey is essential.

The survey has been created exclusively for Carleton by consultant Sue Rankin. In creating this survey Sue worked in partnership with Carleton’s Diversity Initiative Group (DIG) and also reviewed documents such as Carleton’s Statement of Mission, Vision, Values and Goals, and the Statement on Diversity.

All members of the Carleton community can access the survey through a secure online site https://online.survey.psu.edu/carleton. Alternatively, paper copies of the survey are available from the Business Office, Chapel, and Human Resources. Individual responses to the survey are completely confidential. The survey will take about 25 to 30 minutes to complete and should only be taken once per person. The online version must be completed in one sitting. Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience prior to April 19th.

In the fall of 2008 the results of the survey will be shared with the broad Carleton community. Together, we will address areas of concern and build on our strengths. Because of this, I cannot overstate that it is important that you take the time to share your reflections of Carleton. Said differently, your participation in this survey is essential because we wish to move ahead with initiatives only on the basis of solid and comprehensive information. Thank you for joining in these efforts.

Sincerely,

Rob Oden and the members of DIG

For more information about Sue Rankin, please see http://www.rankin-consulting.com/staff.html
For more information about the Diversity Initiatives Group, please see http://apps.carleton.edu/governance/diversity/
For more information on Carleton’s mission and diversity statements, please see https://apps.carleton.edu/about/mission/ and http://apps.carleton.edu/governance/diversity/diversity_statement/