On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Grand Valley State University community is invited to the Pere Marquette Room in the Kirkhof Center from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to learn more about the myGVSU Climate Survey that will take place in November.

The Division of Inclusion and Equity at GVSU will put on the open house forums throughout the last few weeks of September on the Allendale and Pew campuses in order to test the overall climate in GVSU’s classes and workplaces.

Jesse Bernal, the vice president for Inclusion and Equity, said the survey is conducted every few years in order to regularly assess if the campus’ climate is inclusive and open to the entirety of the university community.

“The goal for the survey is 100 percent participation,” Bernal said “We need everyone involved to help it happen and in order to make sure everyone knows about the survey and has all their questions answered.”

While GVSU has conducted four previous climate surveys – the most recent taking place in 2011 – many members of the community, particularly the current students, were not around when the last survey was conducted. As a result, these open forums will give everyone the chance to talk about the campus climate, how the survey is managed and note how the results will be analyzed

Bernal noted that while students, faculty and staff report a positive campus climate in past surveys, there are some groups at GVSU – such as communities of color, the LGBT community and religious minorities – that will occasionally report having negative experiences on campus.

“At GVSU, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where every single member of the community can be their authentic selves, proudly and safely,” Bernal said. “Even one negative experience matters to us.”

In regard to those past survey results, GVSU has made an effort in informing programs on campus of community needs and issues. Groups that have used past data results within their programs include the university’s religious inclusion policy, gender identity and expression committee, the LGBT center, veterans network and the Division of Inclusion and Equity.

Bernal said the university truly cares about all of their community members and wants to create a climate that is a safe and positive place for everyone to learn, live and work.

“We know GVSU is a great place to be,” Bernal said. “We simply want to continue to be better.”

Jenny Jess, a junior, said she is happy to take the survey so that she can contribute her opinion about what it is like to be a student at GVSU.

“Honestly, this is a great platform for all the students on campus,” Jess said. “We are contributing our voices and opinions, really making us feel like we are being listened to by the university so that we can establish further opportunities and discussion for everyone.”

For those students and faculty who wish to attend any of the open forum events, listed below are the times, dates and locations:

Sept. 23 – Pere Marquette Room (2204 Kirkhof Center), 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 – Hager Auditorium (119 CHS Building), noon to 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 29 – Loosemore Auditorium (122E DeVos),noon to 1:30 p.m.

The myGVSU Climate Survey will go live on Nov. 12.

For those students and faculty who cannot make the open forums, an online comment tool has been made available so that questions and comments can be made about the initiative, at www.gvsu.edu/mygvsu.