Brick by Brick: An LGBTQ2SIA+ Campus Climate Study at UIC!
What is a Climate Study? Heading link
We are excited to introduce you to Brick by Brick: An LGBTQ2SIA+ Campus Climate Study at UIC!
Over the two years, we will be conducting a research study on LGBTQ2SIA+ students’ experiences with, and perceptions of the UIC campus climate. This study will center LGBTQ2SIA+ student voices—your voice—as you tell us what it’s like to be an LGBTQ2SIA+ student at UIC. Through listening to your experiences, needs and concerns, we hope to create policy, services and programs that support LGBTQ2SIA+ student well-being and success in the years to come.
Student Affairs Faculty Fellow Research Presentation: Brick by Brick: Findings from the UIC LGBTQ2SIA+ Campus Climate Study Heading link
Thursday, March 14, 2024 | 2:00 PM CST
Zoom RSVP: go.uic.edu/BrickBrickPres
Presenters:
Nic M. Weststrate, PhD, Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
Billy Huff, PhD, Director, Gender and Sexuality Center
Moisés Villada, MS, Associate Director, Gender and Sexuality Center
Yasmine Dukan, MUPP, Assistant Director, Gender and Sexuality Center
UIC has been designated by Campus Pride as one of the best colleges in Illinois for LGBTQ2SIA+ students. On the surface this accolade seems worthy of celebration, however, this national benchmarking tool fails to take into consideration how LGBTQ2SIA+ students actually experience UIC campus. Centering our students’ voices, since 2021 we have been conducting a multi-phase, mixed-method study about queer and trans student experiences at UIC. Data include in-depth interviews, town halls, a largescale survey, and focus groups. In this talk, we present key qualitative and quantitative findings from the interviews and survey. Our results reveal a much more complicated picture for LGBTQ2SIA+ students than the Campus Pride Index would suggest. This information will enable faculty and staff to improve curriculum, practice, programs, services, and policies, so that UIC can meet the diverse and emergent needs of LGBTQ2SIA+ students in a rapidly evolving, and increasingly threatening, national context.
Dr. Weststrate is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Learning, Department of Educational Psychology and a SA Faculty Fellow. Student Affairs Faculty Research Fellow Program supports UIC faculty who conduct research in areas relevant to Student Affairs.
Collaborating Partners: UIC College of Education, UIC Gender and Sexuality Center, UIC Student Affairs.
Phase 1 (Spring 2021-Fall 2021) Heading link
Town Hall Meetings:
In the town hall meetings, we worked with student leaders in a group setting to voice grievances, or praise for the climate students have experienced at UIC.
One on One Interviews:
In the first phase our study, we conducted 30- to 60-minute interviews with approximately 35 undergraduate and graduate students via Zoom. The interviews were conducted by students on our research team. We interviewed a diverse cross-section of self-identified LGBTQIA+ students. Students filled out an eligibility survey to determine eligibility to be interviewed.
Phase 2 (Spring 2022-Fall 2022): Heading link
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Development of survey tool with student insight and stakeholder feedback.
Phase 3 (Spring 2023): Heading link
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Launch of campus climate study to all UIC LGBTQ2SIA+ undergrad, graduate, and professional students. Starting March 1, 2023, closing May 5, 2023.
Meet the Research Team: Heading link
Dr. Nic M. Weststrate Heading link
Principal Investigator, and Assistant Professor with UIC’s Department of Educational Psychology
nicwest@uic.edu
Dr. Billy Huff Heading link
Co-Principal Investigator, and Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center
billy@uic.edu
Moisés Villada Heading link
Co-Principal Investigator, and Associate Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center
moises@uic.edu
Yasmine "Yazzie" Dukan Heading link
Co-Principal Investigator, and Assistant Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center
ptadro2@uic.edu
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Heading link
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Why is the campus climate study called “Brick by Brick”?
The study is called Brick by Brick to honor the historical moment of the Stonewall rebellion that sparked the modern LGBTQ2SIA+ movement. It is said that on June 28, 1969, during a bar raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, Black and Brown Trans women threw the first bricks at police resulting in an uprising. The hope is that this study captures the experiences of our LGBTQ2SIA+ students, builds community, and generates future actions that lay the foundation, brick by brick, for a better UIC.
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What is a climate Study?
A climate study is a research tool that captures information about peoples’ impressions, attitudes, and observations about specific environments they navigate. This climate study focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQ2SIA+) students’ experiences with, and perceptions of the UIC campus climate. Our focus is understanding LGBTQ2SIA+ students’ voices as they tell us what it’s like to be an LGBTQ2SIA+ student at UIC. By listening to your experiences, needs, and concerns, we hope to create policy, services, and programs that support LGBTQ2SIA+ student well-being and success in the years to come.
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How will you collect data?
We have conducted one-on-one interviews and collected information from town hall meetings. In spring 2023, we are launching a campus wide survey for LGBTQ2SIA+ students to take. It’s anonymous and confidential.
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How will you ensure that the participants’ privacy is protected?
You will need to sign into the survey using your UIC NetID to show that you are a student, but this information will not be stored or connected to your responses in any way. We are not collecting any identifiable information from you.
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How much time do you I have to complete the survey?
We encourage you to complete the survey in one sitting, however, you are able to leave the survey and re-enter to finish it later as long as you (1) open the survey in the same browser that you started and (2) complete the survey within 1 week of starting it. The survey will be live starting on March 1, 2023 and will close on May 5, 2023.
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What are the goals of the study?
The research team hope to gain insight on how LGBTQ2SIA+ students are experiencing UIC in the classroom, on and off campus.
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Will there be any invasive questions being asked in the survey?
There will be questions about your personal experiences and participants can disclose whatever information they are comfortable sharing. We do not include identifiable characteristics to ensure everyone’s privacy.
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What events will the climate study be doing to recruit students?
The student outreach team will table all over campus, collaborate with student organizations, engage with student leaders, and be available to provide presentations about the study to those interested.
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Will there be any incentives given if I participate in the study?
You will not be compensated for responding to the survey.
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How will the climate study handle & respect participants who are not publicly open about their sexuality or gender identities?
We intend to respect everyone’s identities and personal journey. The study is designed to include the various experiences of all our students. The study is voluntary, anonymous, and confidential.
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Do you have any social media we can support?
We have an Instagram account and our handle is @BrickbyBrickUIC. You can tag us and use the hashtag #UICBrickByBrick.
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Can I participate in the study if I am not LGBTQ2SIA+?
Brick by Brick is specifically for students who identify within the LGBTQ2SIA+ spectrums. To support the study, feel free to tell students you know who identify as LGBTQ2SIA+ to take the survey!