University of Oregon will take part in both the American Association of Universities’ campus climate survey and develop its own, a story on the campus website Around the O announced earlier today.
The goal of choosing both is to gain more information on sexual violence and have some influence in how the national poll is conducted, according to a statement from administration.
Interim President Scott Coltrane will form a Campus Climate Advisory Group to oversee the projects and discuss the campus sexual violence data that is collected. UO Psychology Professor Jennifer Freyd will be a part of the advisory group. Freyd has already conducted research that suggested that sexual violence is more widespread than people think.
Freyd has not yet commented on her role.
The AAU announced plans to administer survey in October, and the deadline for each university to decide whether or not it would join the survey was Dec. 1. But Coltrane talked with the AAU and extended the deadline, and said in a statement:
“We are taking a few more days to decide whether to participate in the AAU climate survey. We have received a lot of information from our own researchers on campus and from the AAU, and we need a little more time to consider it carefully. I’m grateful to the AAU for their leadership on this issue and for allowing us additional time. I am also grateful to our researchers for sharing their important perspective.”
Funds for both surveys will be provided by the Office of the President.