A flier for the 2016 KU Climate Study

For the past couple years I’ve heard administrators at the University of Kansas talking about the upcoming KU Climate Study. It came up more among students during conversations about race and sexual assault, often with the question, “What’s taking so long?”

Well, after a planning process involving a task force, steering committees, an outside consulting firm (Rankin & Associates Consulting), focus groups, developing questions and developing a marketing plan, the online survey finally opened Sept. 13. It closes Friday.

Of the 39,006 individuals invited to take the survey, 7,400 (or 18.9 percent) had completed it as of Tuesday morning, according to provost’s office communications manager Jill Hummels. She said lots of reminders have been going out this week, so that number should grow before the survey closes.

The survey asks demographic information such as gender, race and financial status, as well as whether participants find the campus welcoming, have seen racism or been the victim of unwanted sexual contact. Results are expected to be released in the spring, according to KU’s Climate Study website. The site says the ultimate goal of the survey is collecting feedback from students, faculty and staff to “provide KU with an extensive examination of the current campus culture and provide strategic action steps to lay groundwork to transform the future and maximize KU’s ability to enhance equity and inclusion.”

One potential twist: I recently heard a faculty member voice concern about the integrity of results because people can take the online survey as many times as they want. Not only is that true, you also don’t have to be a KU student or employee to take the survey. (I just did — don’t worry, though, I stopped short of actually clicking “submit” at the end.)

That’s on purpose, Hummels said. First, she said KU wanted the survey to be open to affiliates (Memorial Unions, Hilltop Child Development Center, KU Alumni Association, KU Medical Center, etc.) whose employees may not all have KU IDs. Second, she said, “we have done everything we can to ensure people have confidentiality, and whenever you require a sign-on like that it destroys the feeling of confidentiality.”

Hummels said the university is hopeful people won’t take advantage but that the consulting firm has experience identifying responses that can’t be trusted. She did not elaborate but said one of the more simple signs they look for and throw out is surveys submitted back to back, whether by accident or on purpose.

I will say, the survey is a 15- to 30-minute process with a gazillion little dots to read and click, so at least someone taking it nefariously would have to exhibit a certain level of commitment to follow through.

A flier for the 2016 KU Climate Study

• Student Senate enlists more vets: The KU Student Senate this month voted to create a new seat just for veterans. KU’s Student Veterans of America organization will be able to choose one representative from their organization to fill the appointed seat. “We’re really excited to have more representation from them,” Student Body Vice President Gabby Naylor said, during her report at last week’s University Senate meeting. (In addition to senators elected by peers, Student Senate has appointed seats reserved for representatives from a number of student housing, minority and other organizations.)

• Brad Paisley concert reminder: Everybody (except me — insert sad face emoji here because I can’t go) have fun at Brad Paisley Friday night, but leave your booze at home. Deputy Chief James Anguiano of KU police reminds that even though the free outdoor concert is by the stadium, tailgating rules don’t apply. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Anguiano said people caught with alcohol will be turned away or issued citations. Also expect heavy traffic in the area, he said. For more information on the concert, click here.

Brad Paisley performs during day six of the Festival d'ete de Quebec on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Quebec City, Canada. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

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• I’m the Journal-World’s KU and higher ed reporter. See all the newspaper’s KU coverage here. Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com, by phone at 832-7187, on Twitter @saramarieshep or via Facebook at Facebook.com/SaraShepherdNews.