The CALS Climate Survey opens on Thursday, November 21, for faculty, staff, postdocs and employed graduate students. The survey, which will be administered by the UW Survey Center and overseen by the CALS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), will be used to inform plans to improve our climate across the college. Results will help direct efforts to help the CALS community become healthier.

ODEI has tried to visit as many centers, departments and units as possible in person since the start of Fall 2024 to share about the climate survey. However, they have not been able to directly connect with everyone and thus have created a webpage to provide an overview of the climate survey. In addition, ODEI will be holding office hours (listed on the webpage) and two virtual information sessions to provide updates about their work and the survey on Nov. 21 and Dec. 10. Register for the sessions online.

Key things to know about the CALS Climate Survey:

• Survey invitations will be sent directly to employees’ WiscMail. All CALS faculty, staff, postdocs and employed graduate students will receive a personalized email invitation to participate in the climate survey. 
• Do not share the survey link you receive with others. Everyone will receive a unique survey link from the UW Survey Center. This allows someone to start and restart the questionnaire and to end reminders when the survey is completed.
• Participation is voluntary, but not required. Everyone’s feedback is important, and we want to understand everyone’s experience as CALS strives to improve climate. 
• Survey responses are confidential. The UW Survey Center is assisting to help protect your confidentiality and to follow best practices in survey administration. Responses will be aggregated in a way that will not allow individuals to be identified. 
• Survey results will be shared in Spring 2025. Results will be used to inform next steps, action plans and initiatives at unit and college levels.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the ODEI team via email (odei@cals.wisc.edu), office hours or information sessions.