Community Survey
In February 2020, Penn State University launched the Community Survey. The first of its kind, University-wide survey was implemented as part of ongoing efforts to promote community, inclusion and diversity on campus, and to support Penn State’s strategic priorities in these areas. The data collected by the survey are extensive and rich, and interpreting results requires intention and care. While topline descriptive statistics may present a positive narrative, they also frequently obscure the perspectives of subgroups of respondents—including those that have been historically under-represented or marginalized. This summary includes results revealed in this report as well as in the accompanying dashboards. We do not present these as an exhaustive account, but rather as an invitation to explore beyond surface statistics and to promote a deeper understanding of the communities that make Penn State a vibrant university.
The data collected by the Community Survey reflect a wide range of experiences and perspectives from across Penn State. Exploring them in this report and accompanying dashboards reveal that a more nuanced picture of our community’s experiences can be found just beneath the surface of the survey’s highest-level results. To fulfill the survey’s purpose, including promoting community, inclusion, and diversity across Penn State campuses, it is critical that we engage fully with the data as we seek understanding of the lived experiences of colleagues and our students. Results reveal significant opportunities for growth –for individuals, as well as for colleges, campuses, and units.