Members of the Associated Students of Madison Diversity Committee discussed an upcoming campus climate survey and project to address tuition equity for undocumented students Monday.
Diversity Committee Intern Jessica Behling spoke about her semester project, a survey asking students about their experience with the University of Wisconsin-Madison diversity climate.
According to Behling, the survey explores a variety of topics, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious preferences and instances of discrimination and harassment.
Behling said she wanted to pursue the survey because the university has never attempted a campuswide survey to discover campus climate problems.
She added the survey will be sent to students and professors directly by Diversity Committee members. Diversity Committee Chair Mia Akers said the survey is important because climate affects student interactions throughout campus.
“I think it’s important for students because it’s our climate, it’s our culture, and we want to shape it to be the best we can,” Akers said.
Akers said she believes students will take time to engage with the survey because campus climate is part of daily life at the university.
Diversity Committee Intern Ricardo Mora also spoke about his project to explore the stories of undocumented students at the university, who currently pay full out of state tuition.
Mora said he eventually wants to pursue in state tuition for these undocumented students by soliciting the support of faculty, student organizations and shared governance bodies.
Akers said she is “proud” her committee is addressing citizenship status because it is a diversity issue that is commonly overlooked.
