Understanding the climate and culture of the campus is essential to improving organizational effectiveness. Institutional researchers will be influenced increasingly by research in this area, by improving their awareness, defining important dimensions of the institutional culture, establishing benchmarks for future reference, actively undertaking…

Article presents a philosophical framework that educators and student affairs professionals might use in their current practices to enhance multicultural and diversity programs and overall campus climate. The framework purports to create an intellectual discourse about the needs and the outcomes of services, programs, and courses beyond…

Examines recognition of the college experiences of African American undergraduates by environmental fit from the perspective of whether students see themselves as marginalized or "mattering." Explores the results of a study of undergraduate students utilizing this "mattering" perspective regarding their views on facets of university life. Examines…

Presents assessment as a means toward systematically gauging the climate and culture of American colleges and universities and provides a brief overview of historical factors which impact today's concept of diversity. Includes a discussion of the number and location of incidents related to race, gender, and sexual orientation as reported by the…

Reports how one major state university has successfully integrated campus ministers into student affairs programming. Following a brief history of campus ministry, supplies data to document the amount and type of involvement which campus ministers provided in support of broader student affairs goals. Attention is also paid to the pitfalls…

Describes the development of the College and University Community Inventory (CUCI), an instrument designed to measure the extent of community within colleges and universities for students. Article discusses the methods for establishing the instrument's validity and ascertaining reliability indices. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/GCP)

Reports findings of a regional survey project which assessed the current support services provided to gay, lesbian, and bisexual students and student organizations at NASPA Region III institutions. Also assesses campus climate for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students based on academic support and resources provided to student organizations, along…

Presents evidence that spiritual development is an integral part of students' overall development and argues that it is too often ignored on college campuses. Offers strategies to improve cooperation between student affairs administrators and representatives of religion on campus to acknowledge this aspect of students' lives more fully. (Contains…

Examines the attributions college students (N=301) make toward pictures of college campus buildings. Results reveal that students attributed greater likelihood of individual success to pictures depicting modern architecture than they did to those depicting traditional architecture. (Contains 28 references and 3 tables.) (Author/GCP)

Presents the results of a national study that sought to identify the effectiveness of campus judicial systems in doctoral-granting universities. Student judicial systems were categorized based on the level of formality present as determined by terminology, processes, and characteristics of the system. The effectiveness of a system was determined…

Examines the effects of cultural orientation and multicultural experience on campus belongingness for Asian American undergraduates, as compared to Anglo-Americans. Results confirm the value of secure cultural orientations, particularly biculturalism, in the college adjustment of Asian Americans. Past multicultural experience was less relevant to…

Identifies the legal principles and constraints that apply to expression of spirituality on the college campus by members of the community, be they students or employees. Specifically addresses the hesitancy heard from student affairs professionals who are unaware of or confused about the legal issues involved in religion and spirituality on the…

Drinking games among American college students, although popular, contribute significantly to excessive drinking and alcohol-related problems. Drinking games appear to facilitate socialization, and are especially prevalent among younger students. This article reviews the qualitative and quantitative research on drinking games. Findings from…

One hundred forty-two upper-class women, majoring in either education or engineering, responded to two open-ended questions about classroom characteristics that encouraged or discouraged participation. Results suggest that instructors play a pivotal role in creating a positive climate for women. Suggestions for improving educational environments…

Designed to improve internal communications at Michigan's Macomb Community College (MCC), this plan identifies strategies, goals, objectives, and activities which are consistent with established policy and an organizational assessment. After section I provides introductory comments, section II considers the policy implications of the…