Northeastern Voice

Let your voice be heard on diversity

When the results of the last campus diversity survey were released, more than 70 percent of respondents found Northeastern's climate "respectful" and "not racist."

Donnie Perkins, dean of affirmative action and diversity, found those 2001 survey results "gratifying," showing a marked improvement from a 1995 survey.

Now it's time to see if the trend continues, Perkins said. Over the next several weeks, the Office of Institutional Research will conduct a comprehensive survey of faculty, staff and students on diversity at the university. The dean is asking everyone to respond.

Said Perkins: "By taking 15 minutes to complete the online survey, you will provide information to benchmark the university's progress toward fully embracing diversity — one of our five core values in the new Academic Plan — and help us build a stronger campus community, and model for what our society can be."

President Joseph Aoun, whose oft-repeated mantra about universities providing models, not mirrors, Perkins was quoting, instituted a university-wide Committee on Community, Harmony, Inclusion and Justice shortly after his inauguration. He charged the committee to help "find better ways to live up to our own expectations of a campus community respectful of all its members."

Perkins said his office surveys the campus roughly every five to seven years. "The ultimate goal here is, of course, to help build a stronger community for everyone," he said. "We're encouraging everybody to participate. The stronger participation level we have, the better the results will be — better representing our thinking, our feeling, regarding our campus."

The last part of the survey, he said, allows for personal comments.

There will be a drawing, for "great gifts," from among those responding, Perkins noted.

The survey will go out by email to faculty and staff, and through the MyNEU portal to students. Results will be available later this year, research officials said.

(pictured Dean Donnie Perkins)