Cross-Cultural Climate Assessment

How diversity-friendly is your campus community?  Charged with the responsibility for recruiting, serving, and retaining a culturally diverse student population, Enrollment Management and Student Services professionals need to understand the reasons for cross-cultural trends within the campus community.  This information is best collected through a campus cross-cultural climate assessment—a service that includes a survey and focus group meetings designed to identify clearly the diversity health of the campus community.

TFA offers two versions of an assessment, depending on your choice as to whether you prefer to have a community event included in the on-campus visit, or you prefer to have an on-line survey administered prior to the visit. The fee for either service is $4,000 plus reimbursement of travel expenses.

Cross-Cultural Assessment and Community Event

1. During a conversation about your campus and issues related to cross-cultural climate, we customize a list of materials for you to send TFA to help prepare for an effective on-site consultation. We also discuss what meetings will be most helpful in understanding the current and desired state of cross-cultural climate and develop an itinerary;
2. Peter A. Vogel, TFA Diversity Consultant, personally conducts an on-site day of meetings with faculty, staff, and administrators;
3. A live, electronic survey—with instant data and charts projected for participants—is conducted in the evening, when students, faculty, and staff can openly discuss the results;
4. The following afternoon, Vogel leads a discussion in an Exit Briefing including:
Five top-priority—custom—recommendations for action that will have the greatest impact on attracting, serving, and retaining a culturally diverse campus community at your institution.
5. Vogel spends 15 minutes talking about how your campus and TFA might work together to achieve your campus cross-cultural enrichment goals; and
6. TFA sends you– within ten business days–a written executive summary and proposal for a customized partnership, with specific services that are right for your campus.

Draft Itinerary

The following itinerary is designed as a starting point and will vary, depending on availability of participants and the circumstances that are unique to the campus.

Cross-Cultural Assessment and Prior Administration of a Survey

Here’s how it works:

1. During a conversation about your campus and issues related to cross-cultural climate, we customize a list of materials for you to send TFA to help prepare for an effective on-site consultation. We also discuss what meetings will be most helpful in understanding the current and desired state of cross-cultural climate and develop an itinerary;
2. Peter A. Vogel, TFA Diversity Consultant, works with you to administer an on-line Campus Cross-Cultural Climate Survey prior to his visit on campus;
3. Peter personally conducts an on-site day of meetings with faculty, staff, administrators, and students;
4. Vogel leads a discussion in an Exit Briefing including:
Five top-priority—custom—recommendations for action that will have the greatest impact on attracting, serving, and retaining a culturally diverse campus community at your institution.
5. Vogel spends 15 minutes talking about how your campus and TFA might work together to achieve your campus cross-cultural enrichment goals; and
6. TFA sends you– within ten business days–a written executive summary and proposal for a customized partnership, with specific services that are right for your campus.

Draft Itinerary

The following itinerary is designed as a starting point and will vary, depending on availability of participants and the circumstances that are unique to the campus.

Campus Cross-Cultural Climate Survey administered online prior to campus visit

Materials and Institutional Data

The following institutional information, when available, will be reviewed prior to the campus visit to assist in understanding the campus culture, strengths, and challenges. Don’t worry—no campus ever has all the requested materials.

1. Cross-Cultural Campus Climate Assessment Data Sheet that is e-mailed to you. 
2. The revised/completed itinerary.  A generic form is e-mailed to you for your customization.
3. Campus Diversity Strategic Plan
4. Catalog
5. Self-Study report if fewer than five years old
6. Multicultural Enrollment data from the past three years
7. Multicultural Enrollment projections
8. Results of student satisfaction surveys
9. Multicultural Affairs Committee minutes
10. Academic, demographic, and multicultural profile of student body
11. Faculty/staff attitude surveys and reports
12. Administrative organizational charts
13. Institutional Factbook
14. Any other documents or reports that will provide insights about strengths, opportunities or controversial issues on your campus.