Guide to Best Practices for Departmental Climate

We value the richness of our Columbia community and are committed to the well-being and success of all community members.  We are reviewing this webpage in light of recent federal directives. Columbia complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not engage in illegal preferences or discrimination.

In 2019, we published the Guide to Best Practices in Departmental Climate to inform faculty, department chairs, and administrators who seek a better understanding of the importance of academic workplace climate and its potential impact on productivity, job satisfaction, and faculty retention. This guide was by no means prescriptive; it was meant to serve as a springboard for self-reflection and discussion. Individual units and departments have unique strengths and challenges and will have different approaches to improving their climate.

An online resource, Tools for Developing a Climate Self-Assessment, provides quick start instructions for customization.

In March 2020, in response to the abrupt shift to remote work, our office produced Best Practices for Inclusive Remote Work in the Academy as addendum to this Guide.