Brescia campus

Racial Climate Assessment Survey

Please note the Racial Climate Assessment Survey is closed. 

Letter of Information and Consent

Co-Principal Investigators:
  • Lissette Ochoa, Special Advisor to Principal in Diversity & Inclusion,  |Co-Lead, Kings-Brescia Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG)
    Brescia University College, London ON, N6G 1H2
    E-mail: lochoa2@uwo.ca
  • Dr. Vidya Natarajan, Writing Program Coordinator
    Co-Lead, Kings-Brescia Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG)
    King’s University College, London ON, N6A 2M3
    E-mail: snatara@uwo.ca

Co-Investigators:

  • Siham Elkassem (Child and Family Therapist, Vanier Children's Wellness; PhD Student, Memorial University)
  • Dr. Yvonne Asare-Bediako (Instructor, Department of Sociology, Brescia)

Additional Research Staff:

  • Members of the King’s/Brescia (Joint Principals’) Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG)

Sponsor / Funder Information:

  • King’s and Brescia Principal’s Offices

Conflict of Interest:

  • We are not aware of any conflicts of interest.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE:

As a member of the King’s or Brescia campus community, you are being asked to participate in a Campus Racial Climate Assessment Survey conducted by the King’s /Brescia Joint Prin cip als’ Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG), from Feb 2021 to April 2021. Our purpose is to gather information on the experiences of racial minorities on the King’s and Brescia campuses, so that we can identify ways of promoting their wellbeing and success.

What will happen during this study? Study procedure

All members of the King’s and Brescia campus communities (students, faculty, staff and administrators) are invited to fill out a survey questionnaire online. We especially want to hear from members who are from racial minority groups, but the study is not restricted to these groups. The survey asks questions about experiences or witnessing of racism, suggested anti-racist actions, and perceptions of campus racial climate. It will take around 30 minutes to complete. Participants will remain anonymous.

The results will be collated and analyzed to find patterns, and explained in light of other similar studies and Critical Race Theory. This will offer insights into what it feels like to be a person from a racial minority on these campuses, and how faculty, staff, student and administrators can work together to promote positive change.

Potential risks and benefits

Your input will benefit the two college communities by helping us understand the experiences and needs of campus members who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, from minority faiths, etc. among students, staff, faculty, and administrators. Our findings will inform our recommendations for positive changes in curriculum and policy on the two campuses.

There are no known or anticipated physical risks or discomforts associated with participating in this study. Some participants may experience emotional upset or anxiety following the completion of some of the survey questions. If you experience emotional upset or anxiety, you can contact the following resources to help you:

University support services and mental health resources
Online resources
Leaving the study

If you decide to withdraw from the study, you may do so at any time by exiting the survey window. Due to the anonymous nature of your data, once your survey responses have been submitted, the researchers will be unable to withdraw your data.

Confidentiality

Your survey responses will be collected anonymously through a secure online survey platform called Qualtrics.  Qualtrics uses encryption technology and restricted access authorizations to protect all data collected.  In addition, Western’s Qualtrics server is in Ireland, where privacy standards are maintained under the European Union safe harbour framework. The data will then be exported from Qualtrics and securely stored on Western University's server.

Storage and use of data

All data will be collected anonymously and neither the researchers nor anyone else will be able to identify you as a research participant. The data will be stored on a secure server at Western University and will be retained for a minimum of 7 years. Your data may be retained indefinitely and could be used for future research purposes (e.g., to answer a new research question). By consenting to participate in this study, you are agreeing that your data can be used beyond the purposes of this present study by either the current or other researchers.

Incentive for participation

Upon completion of the survey, you will have the option to enter into a draw to win one of two prizes of $125. To enter your contact information (email) to be notified in case you win, you will be given a link to a separate page not managed by the KB-ARWG, and not linked to this survey. It is expected that there will be around 80 participants. If you win the draw, you will be notified by email.

Your rights as a participant

Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may decide not to be in this study.  Even if you consent to participate you have the right to not answer individual survey questions or to close the survey window.  You do not waive any legal right by consenting to this study. Please be aware that due to the anonymous nature of your data, once your survey responses have been submitted, the researchers will be unable to withdraw your data.

Questions?

If you have questions about this research study please contact:

  • Lissette Ochoa, Special Advisor to Principal in Diversity & Inclusion,  |Co-Lead, Kings-Brescia Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG)
    Brescia University College, London ON, N6G 1H2
    E-mail: lochoa2@uwo.ca

OR

  • Dr. Vidya Natarajan, Writing Program Coordinator
    Co-Lead, Kings-Brescia Anti-Racism Working Group (KB-ARWG)
    King’s University College, London ON, N6A 2M3
    E-mail: snatara@uwo.ca

If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant or the conduct of this study, you may contact Dr. Jen Pecoskie, Research Officer, Brescia University College, jpecosk@uwo.ca,  519.432.8353 ext. 28044; or Dr. Gillian Balfour, Vice Principal and Academic Dean, King’s University College, Gillian.Balfour@kings.uwo.ca, 519.433.3491 ext. 4357. Everything that you discuss will be kept confidential.

CONSENT

You indicate your voluntary agreement to participate by responding to the survey.