Campus Climate Research
A page within Center for Civil Dialogue & Civic Engagement
Join us 11/6 and/or 11/13 to examine the Campus Community & Belonging Assessment survey findings.
Register here for the Campus Climate Research Reveal
Questions? Reach out to Dr. Nevin J. Heard (nheard@uwlax.edu) or Ashley S. Nowak (anowak2@uwlax.edu).
Welcome to the Campus Climate at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. We are focused on reviewing and implementing the recommendations gathered from survey data and focus groups to enhance the campus climate. As a committee, we aim to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our university 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
The Campus Climate Research Committee developed and distributed an internal survey in May 2026 to gather insights from UWL students, staff, and faculty. The goal is to better understand current campus experiences and perceptions related to belonging. Data analysis is currently underway. For updates or questions, please contact a member of the Campus Climate Research Committee.
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.
