Campus Climate Research

Welcome to the Campus Climate at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. We are committed to coordinating, collecting, and analyzing data using best research practices to strengthen the campus climate. Our committee works collaboratively to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for every member of the UWL community.

The UWL campus climate team is comprised of the following campus representatives:

Andie Coxey - Coordinator for Student Engagement and High Impact Practice
Ashley S. Nowak - Director for the Center for Civil Dialogue and Civil Engagement
Becki Elkins, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Student Affairs Administration
Bryan Kopp, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of English
Caleb Colon-Rivera - Program Manager for the Center for Civil Dialogue and Civil Engagement
Nabamita Dutta, Ph.D. - Professor of Economics
Nevin J. Heard, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access, Belonging, and Compliance
Nese Nasif, Ph. D. - Associate Professor of Marketing
Patrick Barlow, Ph. D. - Assessment Coordinator for Institutional Research, Assessment, & Planning
Will Van Roosenbeek - Director of LGBTQA Services and Programs

2025–2026 Campus Climate Survey
In May 2025, the Campus Climate Research Committee conducted an internal survey to gather insights from UWL students, staff, and faculty. The goal is to better understand experiences and perceptions of belonging on campus. Looking ahead, focus groups are scheduled for spring 2026 to deepen this conversation.

For updates or questions, please reach out to Dr. Nevin J. Heard (nheard@uwlax.edu) or Ashley S. Nowak (anowak2@uwlax.edu).

Exploring Institutional Commitment to Diversity
In fall 2022, the committee was tasked with examining UWL’s commitment to diversity, particularly for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students. This initiative was launched in response to findings from the 2021 Diverse Learning Environments (DLE) survey, created by the Higher Education Research Institute. Through storytelling and qualitative research, the project sought to define what institutional commitment looks like and elevate student voices.