Cultural Audit: Final Report Nichols and Associates, Inc.
Washington, D.C.
October 2002
Table of Contents

Level II: Scale Analysis by Demographics

For analysis purposes, each scale was transformed into an overall scale score. Items that were negatively worded were reversed scored. The lower the scale score, the better the score or the more favorable the perception. Each demographic variable (i.e., independent variable) was analyzed across scales using t-tests or analysis of variance. Homogeneity of variance was tested using Levene's test of equality of variances. Post-hoc tests were conducted using Tukey's test when variances were equal or Dunnette's C when variances were unequal. The sample of students included 164 respondents. For this level of analysis, the faculty, staff and administration group was split into two groups. The sample of faculty included 128 respondents. The sample of administration/staff included 109 respondents.

Students

Section I: PERCEPTION OF SCSU
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Students' perceptions of SCSU were a function of three of the demographic variables, race, age, and spiritual/religious affiliation. Majority students have more favorable perceptions of SCSU than minority students. The age cohort 17 to 20 years of age has a more favorable perception of SCSU than the age cohort 21 to 25 years of age. Students identifying themselves as Christians have more favorable perceptions of SCSU than those identifying themselves as non-Christians (i.e. Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Wicca, and other religious affiliation).

Section II: CULTURAL VALUES
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The perceptions of SCSU's cultural values are not influenced by demographic factors. All students appear to be homogeneous in their perception of cultural values.

Section III: EXPERIENCES AT SCSU
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority students indicated more favorable experiences at SCSU than minority students. This finding is consistent with the Focus Group Report and may be attributable to the harassment experienced and the lack of recourse available to these minority students.

Section IV: OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT SCSU
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority students indicated more favorable opinions and attitudes about SCSU than minority students. International students indicated less favorable opinions and attitudes about SCSU than non-international students.

Section V: SATISFACTION WITH STUDENT LIFE
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The level of satisfaction with student life is not influenced by demographic factors. All students appear to be homogeneous in their level of satisfaction with student life.

Section VI: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Students classified as sophomores felt more positive about interpersonal relationships than juniors. This may be due to the fact that sophomores have survived their freshman year and begin to take more classes with the same students and faculty that are in their major and are thus able to establish relationships with their peers and within their major department.

Section VII: ANTI-AFRICAN AMERICAN
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

International students perceived African American faculty, staff and students more negative than other students. This may be attributable to the negative media attention SCSU has received. International students may be more sensitive and believing of the reports in the media because they have not been acculturated in the United States.

Section VIII: ANTI-SEMITIC
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority students were found to be more Anti-Semitic than minority students. International students had less favorable perceptions of Jews than non-international students. This finding may also be attributable to the negative media attention SCSU has received. International students may be more sensitive and believing of the reports in the media because they have not been acculturated in the United States.

Table 1
Summary of Significant Mean Comparisons By Scales By Demographics for Students

Perception of SCSU

Cultural Values

Experiences as SCSU

Opinions and Attitudes about SCSU

Satisfaction with Student Life

Interpersonal Relationships

Anti-African American

Anti-Semitic

Table 2
Student Survey Scales: Descriptive Statistics

SCALE Number of Items
and Response
Item Range		 Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Perception of SCSU 16 /1-5 23.00 65.00 46.93 7.06
Cultural Values 10/1-5 16.00 50.00 30.58 6.09
Experiences at SCSU 25/1-5 42.00 103.00 72.37 11.18
Opinions and Attitudes 27/1-5 43.00 111.00 78.09 11.49
Satisfaction with Student Life 18/1-5 20.00 82.00 49.17 11.91
Interpersonal Relationships 11/1-7 11.00 59.00 30.81 11.00
Anti-African American 4/1-5 4.00 20.00 11.36 3.26
Anti-Semitic 6/1-5 6.00 26.00 15.98 4.61

FACULTY

Section I: EXPERIENCES AT THE WORKPLACE
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The level of satisfaction with experiences at the workplace is not influenced by demographic factors. Faculty appear to be homogeneous in their level of satisfaction with experiences at the workplace.

Section II: JOB EXPERIENCES
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Males view their job experiences more positively than females. Males are more satisfied with the training, mentoring, performance feedback, and opportunities for advancement they receive.

Section III: OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT SCSU
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority faculty members had more positive opinions and attitudes about SCSU than minority faculty members. The business and psychological literature indicate that the more favorable climate ratings are from majority males, while the least favorable ratings are from minority females. One reason that minorities rate the climate less favorable can be attributable to disparate treatment, the lack of opportunity for advancement, and ineffective management of diversity.

Section IV: COMMUNICATION
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Professors' perceptions of communication were not as favorable as assistant professors and associate professors. Additionally, faculty members who had been at SCSU for 11-20 years had less favorable perceptions of communication than faculty members who had been at SCSU from a few months to five years. As time passes, faculty members become less satisfied with the flow of communication.

Section V: INTERPERSONAL SITUATIONS AND MENTORING
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Favorable perceptions of interpersonal situations and mentoring were found to be a function of status and length of time at SCSU. Assistant professors and associate professors regarded interpersonal situations and mentoring more favorably than professors. Faculty members who had been at SCSU for a few months up to three years regarded interpersonal situations more favorably than faculty members who had been at SCSU between 11-20 years. It appears that as time passes, faculty members become less satisfied with the interpersonal situations and mentoring they experience.

Section VI: JOB SATISFACTION
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Professors indicated a lower level of job satisfaction that assistant professors. The current climate at SCSU may be a reason why the current finding is in the opposite direction of findings in the business and psychological literature.

Section VII: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The level of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships is not influenced by demographic factors. All faculty members appear to be homogeneous in their level of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships.

Section VIII: ANTI-AFRICAN AMERICAN
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Full-time or part-time status is the only demographic variable that influences attitudes towards African Americans. Part-time faculty members had more positive attitudes towards African-Americans than the full-time faculty members. This finding is limited because of the small number of part-time faculty members that completed the survey (n=4).

Section IX: ANTI-SEMITIC
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Attitudes towards Jews are not influenced by demographic factors. All faculty members appear to be homogeneous in their attitudes towards Jews.

Table 3
Summary of Significant Mean Comparisons By Scales By Demographics for Faculty

Experiences at the Workplace

Job Experiences

Opinions and Attitudes about SCSU

Communication

Interpersonal Situations and Mentoring

Job Satisfaction

Interpersonal Relationships

Anti-African American Attitudes

Anti-Semitic Attitudes

Table 4
Faculty Survey Scales: Descriptive Statistics

SCALE Number of Items
and Response
Item Range		 Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Experiences at the Workplace 12/1-5 12.00 50.00 30.87 8.86
Job Experiences 8/1-5 8.00 34.00 23.83 6.41
Opinions and Attitudes about SCSU 38/1-5 66.00 131.00 102.62 14.07
Communication 23/1-5 46.00 95.00 66.06 10.09
Interpersonal Situations and Mentoring 16/1-5 19.00 73.00 41.81 9.84
Job Satisfaction 15/1-5 18.00 64.00 37.78 10.35
Interpersonal Relationships 11/1-7 11.00 51.00 23.60 7.67
Anti-African American 4/1-5 4.00 16.00 9.65 2.92
Anti-Semitism 7/1-5 7.00 28.00 15.90 5.25

ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF

Section I: EXPERIENCES AT THE WORKPLACE
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority members reported more favorable workplace experiences than minority administration and staff members. Administration and staff members ranging in age from 41 to 45 years reported less favorable workplace experiences than those 51 and older. This finding is consistent with organizational and psychological research that indicates that as workers grow older, they tend to be slightly more satisfied with their jobs.

Section II: JOB EXPERIENCES
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority members reported more favorable job experiences than minority administration and staff members. Part-time administration and staff members reported more favorable job experiences than full-time administration and staff members.

Section III: OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT SCSU
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority administration and staff members reported more favorable opinions and attitudes about SCSU than minority administration and staff members. Administration and staff members 51 years of age and older reported more positive opinions and attitudes about SCSU than those between 31 and 35 years of age.

Section IV: COMMUNICATION
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Administration and staff members between the ages of 31 and 35 reported more favorable perceptions of communication than administration and staff members between 21 and 30 years of age.

Section V: INTERPERSONAL SITUATIONS AND MENTORING
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The overall level of satisfaction with interpersonal situations and mentoring is not influenced by demographic factors. All administration and staff members appear to be homogeneous in their satisfaction with interpersonal situations and mentoring.

Section VI: JOB SATISFACTION
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The overall level of job satisfaction is not influenced by demographic factors. All administration and staff members appear to be homogeneous in their level of job satisfaction.

Section VII: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

The overall level satisfaction with interpersonal relationships is not influenced by demographic factors. All administration and staff members appear to be homogeneous in their level of satisfaction with interpersonal relationships.

Section VIII: ANTI-AFRICAN AMERICAN
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Administration and staff members between the ages of 21 and 30 reported more positive attitudes towards African-Americans than those between the ages of 31 and 35. Non-Christians reported more favorable attitudes towards African-Americans than both Christians and those reporting no religious affiliation.

Section IX: ANTI-SEMITISM
Summary of Findings:

Discussion:

Majority administration and staff members reported more favorable towards Jews than minority administration and staff members. Christians had more favorable attitudes toward Jews than those administration and staff members reporting no religious affiliation. Administration and staff members that had been at SCSU for more than 20 years had more favorable attitudes towards Jews than administration and staff members that had been there between 4 and 5 years.

Table 5
Summary of Significant Mean Comparisons By Scales By Demographics for Administration and Staff

Experiences at the Workplace

Job Experiences

Opinions and Attitudes about SCSU

Communication

Interpersonal Situations and Mentoring

Job Satisfaction

Interpersonal Relationships

Anti-African American Attitudes

Anti-Semitic Attitudes

Table 6
Administration and Staff Survey Scales: Descriptive Statistics

SCALE Number of Items
and Response
Item Range		 Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Experiences at the Workplace 12/1-5 13.00 47.00 30.94 8.46
Job Experiences 8/1-5 13.00 38.00 24.83 5.23
Opinions and Attitudes about SCSU 38/1-5 72.00 141.00 106.41 13.34
Communication 23/1-5 45.00 89.00 69.95 9.45
Interpersonal Situations and Mentoring 16/1-5 23.00 65.00 41.94 8.54
Job Satisfaction 15/1-5 15.00 70.00 34.94 10.39
Interpersonal Relationships 11/1-7 11.00 38.00 24.04 7.57
Anti-African American 4/1-5 4.00 19.00 10.40 3.13
Anti-Semitic 7/1-5 8.00 33.00 18.28 5.30


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