63. Create competitive grant programs for higher education institutions to improve campus climates.[i]

Campus Climate 09.6.24

Here’s what the federal government can do:

  • Congress should build a competitive federal grant program for higher education institutions to improve campus climate. Allowable uses should include:
    • Developing and administering campus climate surveys.
    • Establishing cultural and identity centers.
    • Establishing dedicated staff positions and offices responsible for campus climate.
    • Establishing student advisory boards to garner campus climate recommendations.
    • Hiring students to develop and execute campus climate activities (e.g., affinity months, cultural presentations, etc.).
    • Offering career pathway programs for students of color and students with lower incomes who seek to serve their communities.
    • Offering courses and programs that explore race, ethnicity, and social justice, including within the history and context of the campus community.
    • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility training for all faculty and staff.
    • Developing initiatives that consider alternatives to campus police departments and provide safety on campus without undue risk of criminalization.
    • Supporting initiatives that push back against attempts to stifle speech and campus life most central to the college experiences of students of color.
    • Conducting systematic reviews of the quality of academic advising across the institution and making necessary changes to support student outcomes.
    • Creating opportunities for more students of color to serve in decision-making leadership across the institution.

Here’s what state government can do:

  • State legislatures should create competitive grant programs for higher education. Allowable uses should include:
    • Developing campus climate surveys.
    • Establishing cultural and identity centers.
    • Establishing student advisory boards to garner campus climate recommendations.
    • Hiring students to develop and execute campus climate activities (e.g., affinity months, cultural presentations, etc.).
    • Offering career pathway programs for students of color and students with lower incomes who seek to serve their communities.
    • Offering courses and programs that explore race, ethnicity, and social justice, including within the history and context of the campus community.
    • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility training for all faculty and staff.
    • Developing initiatives that consider alternatives to campus police departments and provide safety on campus without undue risk of criminalization.
    • Supporting initiatives that push back against attempts to stifle speech and campus life most central to the college experiences of students of color.
    • Conducting systematic reviews of the quality of academic advising across the institution and making necessary changes to support student outcomes.
    • Creating opportunities for more students of color to serve in decision-making leadership across the institution.

 
Federal and state competitive grants can support the development of campus climate programs that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in higher education. By investing in these efforts, federal and state competitive grants can contribute to safer campuses where all students are valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

[i]As described in the note provided in the introduction of this resource, DEIA programs and race-conscious policies generally vary in their terms and scope; most programs and services, as well as the recommendations offered in this document, are lawful under federal statutory and constitutional laws. Readers are encouraged to consult with their attorneys for legal advice to understand the rights and obligations of students, faculty, administrators, and greater society.