Framing, Awareness, and Communication Satisfaction of Safety Concerns at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Abstract

As an institution, the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire has demonstrated concern for the safety of students. One way it has done this is through the Bias Incident Report Team (BIRT) reports, a specific process available to students that allows them to report safety concerns. Such processes are important because of the rising number of incidents on campuses across the nation. While safety and reporting efforts are important, if students are unaware of these processes then they are ineffective. Furthermore, whether students choose to report may be aligned with other factors such as general perceived campus culture and students’ satisfaction with communication from campus administrators. Using a survey that includes an adapted version of Downs and Hazen’s (1977) communication satisfaction questionnaire and an adapted Organizational Culture Survey from Glaser, Zamanou, and Hacker (1987), this study examines whether students’ perceptions of perceived campus culture and administrative communication are associated with awareness and utilization of safety resources, and analyzes the way that formal organizational messaging is framed as it relates to reporting sensitive safety concerns. Findings should generate discussion surrounding safety resources, while improving awareness and use of safety processes.