Multicultural Institutional Climate - Utah State University
As an academic advisor at Utah State University, I wanted to do an intake of the multicultural climate at my institution. To best meet the needs of multicultural students, the campus climate needs to be accommodate various culture needs for the both the physical environment (such as places for students to interact and the locations of diversity offices) and the human aggregates (i.e. a diverse population of multicultural students and faculty) (Cuyjet, 2011).
USU Physical Environment
The photo slideshow below showcases examples of the physical environment at Utah State and my personal advising office. These photos show older, more traditional areas of campus that follow more a Eurocentric style as well as new buildings on campus with more modern and international feels. It also shows the various study rooms available to students of all multicultural groups and needs, such as those who prefer individual study versus group study.
USU Human Aggregates
To demonstrate the human aggregates at Utah State, the charts below provides a visual representation of the ethnic diversity and gender counts on campus. (Click to enlarge graphs)
(Due to limitations of the data available for public use, further information could not be provided about the diversity of religious background, sexual orientation, ability or other traits of multicultural students).
Based on my observations, Utah State does have a variety of multicultural students on campus and steps are being taken toward creating a conducive environment for them. For example, newer buildings on campus have both private study rooms for those who prefer an individualistic approach and open study areas for those that prefer a communalistic approach. The Access & Diversity Center provides a student gathering location for various multicultural groups and non-traditional students to help them connect with others and have a place at the university. I personally try to have an inviting physical environment by allowing students various places to sit, having neutral office decorations, and by posting an Ally sticker outside my door. I plan to build off this by ensuring an environment of social justice in my office where all students feel they are safe from prejudice and that their differences are important (Lantta, 2008). In addition to the diversity in student population, USU has multicultural faculty in place in a variety of positions such as faculty, vice-presidents, and college deans.