Campus Climate Controllers

This is our cool tag line!

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Recommended Readings

There is established literature that reveals that negative campus climates are prevalent throughout institutions of higher education throughout the United States. The negative campus climates students of color face are not just mild stressors; they are detrimental to the academic success and mental health of students of color.

These articles focus on the harmful effects of negative campus climates:

“Self-Esteem, Locus of Control, College Adjustment, and GPA Among First- and Continuing-Generation Students: A Moderator Model of Generational Status” by Aspelmeier et al

“Retention depends on new models of student development” by Bourne-Bowie

“Nine themes in campus racial climates and implications for institutional transformation” by Harper and Hurtado

“Minds Stayed on Freedom: Politics and Pedagogy in the African American Freedom Struggle” by Perlstein.

“New approach to curb low-retention rates” by Powell

“Differing perceptions: How students of color and white students perceive campus climate for underrepresented groups” by Rankin and Reason

“Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate: The experiences of african american college students” by Solorzano et al.

“Minority stress and college persistence attitudes among african american, asian american, and latino students: Perception of university environment as a mediator” by Wei et al.

“Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate for Latina/o undergraduates” by Yosso et al.

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Campus Environment

Despite the UC Berkeley statement/policy on diversity being adopted eight years ago and amended five years ago, students of color are more likely to feel like UC Berkeley’s campus environment is not welcoming to or inclusive of them. According to the University of California Berkeley’s 2014 Campus Climate Project Final Report, which surveyed students and faculty at UC Berkeley, “white respondents” were “more likely than other groups to feel ‘very comfortable’/ ‘comfortable’ with the overall climate for diversity” on campus, while “underrepresented minority respondents… were more likely to feel ‘very uncomfortable’/‘uncomfortable’” (55). According to the same study, 26% of respondents “believed that they had personally experienced exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct at UC Berkeley” (74). 37% of the 26% of respondents were underrepresented minorities. Of the 37% underrepresented minorities, 58% felt the exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile “conduct [they experienced] was based on race,” while only 27% of 23% of white respondents that experienced the same conduct felt it was based on race (77). http://campusclimate.ucop.edu/_common/files/pdf-climate/ucb-full-report.pdf

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Campus Climate Effects of the Problem

In the history of higher education in the United States, women and all people of color were excluded because of systematic oppression, so the campus climates of universities throughout the United States were shaped to benefit white, heterosexual males of a certain social and economic class, typically of middle class or higher. 

Through progressive political and social movements, higher education policies were changed to allow to admission of women and people of color. The campus climate, however, did not change and continues to remain the same environment which benefits white males because there have not been major changes implemented by universities to make the campus climate more welcoming and accepting of a diverse student body. A negative, or unwelcoming campus climate, is not an issue solely of comfort, it is a prevalent problem that affects the academic success and retention minority students, especially students of color.

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Student Organizations For You!

African American Student Development Office

African American Student Development creates programs and activities that facilitate the retention and graduation of African American students, encourages their matriculation to graduate and professional school, and enhances their undergraduate experiences. 

Black Student Union (BSU)

The Black Student Union at University of California, Berkeley, serves as the unifying body for Black organizations on campus as well as the Black student body. BSU is charged with ensuring the well being of the Black Community, engaging in political issues that affect the Black community on campus and at-large, and the political action plans of the Black Community.

Black Engineering and Science Students Association

To increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers and scientists who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.

Black Students in Health Association

Provide guidance and outreach to African-American and underrepresented minority students interested in the health sciences, medical education, and allied health fields.

Cal Opportunity Scholars Association  

The Cal Opportunity Scholars Association (COSA) promotes "giving back" by encouraging scholars to do outreach in local high schools with the support of Berkeley's Center for Educational Partnerships and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Coalition for Diversity at Berkeley Law

Coalition for Diversity at Berkeley Law promotes diversity at Berkeley Law through strategies to increase the enrollment of students of color; queer and trans students; first-generation professional students; and other under-represented law students.

EOP Student Services

For over 40 years, the Educational Opportunity Program at Cal has provided first generation and low-income college students with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed at the best public university in the world.

Gender Equality Resource Center

The Gender Equity Resource Center, fondly referred to as GenEq, is a UC Berkeley campus community center committed to fostering an inclusive Cal experience for all.

HAAS Undergraduate Black Business Assocation (HUBBA)

There mission is to support African American/Black students and other underrepresented groups with their business affiliated aspirations through professional exposure, professional development opportunities, and community involvement.

Hermanas Unidas

Hermanas Unidas is an organization that provides support for predominantly Chicana/Latina women in their quest for high education through Academics, Community Service, and Professional Collegiate Networking.

Hispanic Engineers and Scientists

The Hispanic Engineers and Scientists (HES) of the University of California, Berkeley, are determined to increase the number of culturally responsible engineers and scientists who succeed academically, lead professionally, and passionately contribute to society.

LEAD Center

The LEAD Center is UC Berkeley’s hub for leadership development, student involvement and co-curricular advising. There goal is to assist students as they explore life-long passions and interests through involvement.

Multi-Cultural Greek Council

Greek Organizations joined together to form this council known as the Multi-Cultural Greek Council at the University of California, Berkeley in order to better meet there individual needs, voice there concerns and promote the greater good of the community.

Muslim Student Association

Aside from fostering a social community for Muslims, the MSA encourages mental, physical, and spiritual development through an array of athletic programs, spiritual discussions, rallies, academic forums, and charity events. The ultimate goal of the MSA is to encourage both Muslims and non-Muslims to evolve intellectually, physically, and spiritually during their tenure at UC Berkeley.

National Council of Negro Women

The National Council of Negro Women, NCNW, serves to lead, develop, and advocate for women of African descent by uplifting the community at large and negating negative stereotypes that plague the African American women community.

National Pan-Hellenic Council

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC) is currently composed of nine (9) historically Black Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities. NPHC promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.

Native American Recruitment and Retention Center

To actively recruit secondary and transfer students to apply to UC Berkeley, as well as guide them through the process. Also, to improve the retention of Native American students on campus through academic, social, cultural, and professional support.

Raza Recruitment and Retention Center

To retain current Latinx/Xicanx/ students at UC Berkeley by promoting and administering programs and events that will enrich the academic, cultural, and social life of the Raza Community at UC Berkeley.

Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education - RISE

R.I.S.E. provides support services, leadership training, and promotes collective empowerment of undocumented students at U.C. Berkeley.

Student Parent Association for Recruitment and Retention

the Student Parent Association for Recruitment and Retention (SPARR), an ASUC funded student group at the diverse University of California, Berkeley. There mission is to reach out to prospective and current students who are or are soon to be parents.

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Our Project

Driven by the results of our research, we are creating an informational blog for UC Berkeley students of color. The blog will include information we have gathered from our research on campus and of existing literature on the topic of campus climate and students of color. We will also include information about the different on-campus organizations oriented towards students of color. We hope that our research will raise awareness of the negative campus climate and the detrimental effects it has on students of color on campus, leading to change and emphasizing to students of color that the stresses they might be feeling are legitimate and that they are not alone.

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What is Campus Climate?

“Campus climate is a measure—real or perceived—of the campus environment as it relates to interpersonal, academic, and professional interactions. In a healthy climate, individuals and groups generally feel welcomed, respected, and valued by the university. A healthy climate is grounded in respect for others, nurtured by dialogue between those of differing perspectives, and is evidenced by a pattern of civil interactions among community members” (UCR Framework for Diversity Report).