Campus Climate, U.S.

Regardless of the type of institution, each U.S. college and university exudes a unique essence of the campus environment that influence—and is shaped by—faculty, staff, administrators, and students. This is commonly referred to as a “campus climate.” While campus climate is often discussed in terms of shared perspectives around procedures and practices, more broadly, it ultimately centers on students and involves all constituencies on the college campus: students, faculty, staff, and administration. This definition builds on organizational research conducted by scholars that recognize campus climate as the perception of collective attitudes, behaviors, and expected standards of campus community members. Understanding campus climate is critical to improving student learning and success. This entry examines the history and emerging trends of campus climate research and discusses how ...