Diversity Engagement Survey (DES)
Building an engaged and inclusive culture across academic medical centers, healthcare organizations and professional workplace environments.
About the DES
The DES measures and describes the inclusiveness of the academic and/or workplace environment, defines the institutional areas of strengths and areas for improvements, and points to the strategic direction for organizational transformation.
The DES is a 10-minute, 22-item online survey that can be administered to all members of your institution or organization, including students, faculty, and staff.
The DES has the option to add customized, institution-specific questions. The standard report provides statistically validated inclusion metrics scores by 10 demographic categories, along with comparison benchmarking data.
Why use the DES?
Assess baseline strengths and areas for improvement related to inclusion and diversity efforts.
Measure the level of workplace engagement among specific demographic groups.
Identify data-driven strategic directions for inclusion and diversity change efforts.
Determine progress toward inclusion goals, such as for an institutional diversity plan or for a regulatory agency.
As of June 2023, there have been 91 administrations of the DES across 68 organizations and another 30 licensed uses across 24 organizations.
Over 170,000 people have responded to the DES.
Get started with the DES, today.
“A business development strategy that doesn’t include a deliberate focus on culture will fall short in comparison to institutions that have figured out how to fully engage individuals at all levels. Needless to say, it is impossible to change an institution’s culture without first assessing the status quo and understanding the extent to which various groups feel engaged.”
— Marc Nivet, EdD, former Chief Diversity Officer, AAMC
Mission Driven History
Academic medicine and the health professions recognize the significant advantages of having a diverse workplace. Diversity is considered an institutional driver of operational excellence. Institutions are seeking high-impact tools to inform diversity and inclusion decisions that can bring about desired change. At the same time, leaders in academic medicine, health care, education, and business have been challenged to identify validated metrics to advance their culture and climate goals. The DES was created to address this need.
Meet Our Team
Led by Sharina D. Person, PhD, the DES team at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School is comprised of highly experienced biostatisticians and data specialists. We will work with your organization to design, administer, analyze, and report on your survey results.
“The DES is an invaluable tool for helping us give a voice to diverse populations at our academic health center and hospitals, including learners, faculty, and staff. As a basis for informing our diversity and inclusion strategic plan, it will ultimately assist us in fulfilling our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people of New Mexico.”
— Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center