Faculty reactions to departmental climate were measured by a series of opposites using a semantic differential format. Considering scores near the endpoints of the scales (i.e., 1 to 3.5 and 6.5 to 8), department climates are generally friendly, nonracist, accepting, welcoming, complimenting, inclusive, tolerant, helpful, civil, strong, casual, fair, equal, and warm.  Males and females give similar ratings, with differences in the other groups worthy of note. 

Whites think departments are more casual and equal than do other ethnicities. Asian Americans rate departments as most friendly, collaborative, inclusive, supportive, helpful, and strong in comparison to the other groups. African Americans’ departments are the most accepting, individualistic (vs collaborative), and competitive. Latino/as perceive their departments as more negative than the other groups - most sexist, intolerant, isolating, narrow-minded, fragmented, reserved, and regressing (vs improving). 

For associate professors, their departments’ climate is more negative on several scales than for those at other ranks.  In contrast, full professors rate their departments as quite high on friendliness, casualness, fairness and equality.