DEI Campus Climate Assessment

March 25, 2022

Dear Campus Community,

This past fall, we conducted a Campus Climate Assessment to measure our progress toward diversity, equity and inclusion at Furman. This included a campus survey and focus groups with various members of our campus community.

As I’ve shared previously, this assessment has been led by our consultant, Trinity College Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Anita Davis. We also partnered with the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS) to administer the survey.

Anita and her team have completed an analysis of the survey results and feedback from the focus groups and developed a set of recommendations that we will share in a series of meetings April 20-21. More information on these meetings, including registration details, will follow in a separate email.

We will use this information to help inform Furman’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including developing a structure and strategy for the chief diversity officer that will support a national search for that position.

As I said in the fall, we must have courageous conversations about the experiences of our community members and the work we need to do make our campus more welcoming, inclusive and supportive. I am grateful for your cooperation with the Campus Climate Assessment and look forward to discussing what we’ve learned.

Warmly,

Elizabeth Davis

President