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Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research
PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges

Purpose and Benefits

About the PACE Climate Survey

The PACE Climate Survey for Community Colleges (PACE Climate Survey) is designed to assess employee perceptions and satisfaction with various aspects of the campus climate. Data gathered from the PACE Climate Survey enable institutions to easily gauge their progress toward improving climate, highlight areas for growth, identify areas needing change or improvement, and set the stage for data-informed decision-making and strategic planning.

The PACE Climate Survey is based on a research-driven conceptual model that demonstrates that the leadership of an institution influences the culture, policies, practices, and routines of their institution. Individual employee perceptions of the institution’s policies, practices, and routines are aggregated to produce an institutional climate. The quality of various aspects of an institution’s climate has been shown to be related to individual-level and institution-level performance outcomes. It is the goal of PACE to act as a catalyst for improving institutional climate for the purpose of enhancing institutional performance toward student success. The PACE Climate Survey asks respondents to evaluate their institution on four climate factors — institutional structure, supervisory relationships, teamwork, and student focus — using a five-point Likert scale. Each set of survey items related to the four climate factors has been tested for reliability and validity. 

For more information, please review the PACE Climate Survey brochure.

Why use the PACE Survey

  • Compare your campus climate to that of peer institutions by size, region, degree type, and more
  • Gather employee insights on a new initiative, project, or practice
  • Develop a strategic plan or evaluate the effectiveness of strategic plan implementation
  • Fulfill accreditation or funding requirements
  • Measure campus climate before, during, or after a change in leadership
  • Assess differences in campus climate across a state or regional college system

“The results of the PACE survey gave us valuable information to use in developing a new strategic plan.”

Michael Gagner, Blackhawk Technical College

“Administering the PACE Survey has been a valuable tool for the college… [it] not only helps us identify our achievements, but also gives us the awareness of where we can achieve additional success in the future.”

Darren Hoff, Anoka Ramsey Community College

  • Over 170 community colleges served
  • Over 110 repeat partners
  • Over 162,000 total respondents
  • More than 30 years of survey administration and reporting