support and the need for more counseling and advisement that focused on their needs. One campus reported that close to 90 percent of Black students called for better treatment by campus police and a more favorable local community racial climate. The institution took immediate steps to correct this problem by hiring a new minority chief of police and additional minority officers, and increasing salary to attract better qualified candidates. Since these changes there has not been a single complaint about campus police behavior.
Students with disabilities indicated several concerns. For instance, one campus reported that 65 percent of students with disabilities wanted additional counseling and advisement. Another campus reported that over 70 percent of students with disabilities sought improved academic support for freshmen and better availability of adaptive technology.
Female student concerns, for the most part, mirrored those of other students including the need for increased financial aid and improved support services. However, on one campus female students indicated a need for healthcare services that better addressed the special needs of women.
Student and Institutional Racial Climate
Underrepresented students were asked about multiracial/ethnic relations on campus from their personal perspective and regarding the institution as a whole. Their perceptions of campus racial climate were, for the most part, positive. A majority of students had good relationships with other students and reported that their campus was friendly and relaxed. One campus reported that 98.5 percent of students indicated the campus climate was friendly or very friendly.
Students with disabilities were positive about facility access improvements and the ability to rely on other students for assistance.
While a majority of students viewed campus racial climate positively, few students from underrepresented groups reported that their campuses were free from racial conflict. One university reported that a large percentage of Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American students perceived the campus climate to be very segregated in its social relations. At another university, minority students reported they were treated unfairly compared with white students. Also, some students with disabilities were slightly more likely than other students to have heard insensitive or disparaging remarks about people with disabilities from faculty, staff, and students.
Racial Relations
Underrepresented students were asked about their attitudes or views on race relations and whether or not they had changed since first attending college. In general, all student groups reported they had gained a greater understanding and appreciation of multicultural differences and diversity and that they were friendlier toward others. One campus reported that 40 percent of students indicated that they were friendlier to people of other race/ethnic groups. Another campus reported that close to 30 percent of students from underrepresented groups were somewhat to distinctly friendlier with people of other race/ethnicities.
However, responses regarding racial relations were mixed across institutions. While some universities reported that a majority of students indicated improved views on race relations, others reported that a majority of students had not changed their views. One university reported that a majority of Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American students indicated no change in their attitudes towards other race/ethnic groups. Another university indicated that close to 50 percent of students were unchanged in their beliefs on segregation and close to 12 percent had stronger
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