A University of Colorado social climate study found that while the majority of students, faculty members and employees feel respected on the campuses, there are some areas for improvement, including respect for political affiliation.

The Board of Regents heard the survey results — including that only 9 percent of faculty members and 17 percent of students across the four campuses identified as Republicans — on Thursday at a meeting on the CU-Denver campus.

“Where is the diversity in our political affiliation or political philosophy among faculty?” said Regent Sue Sharkey, a Republican. “That is a really small number, so that’s a concern. And the same with our students. As a Republican, that concerns me.”

Survey findings include: 5.7 percent of faculty members on the Boulder campus described themselves as Republicans. 40.6 percent of faculty members on the Boulder campus described themselves as Democrats. 9 percent of faculty members across the four campuses described themselves as Republicans. 41.9 percent of faculty members across the four campuses described themselves as Democrats. 17.5 percent of students on the Boulder campus identify as atheist, the largest religious identity on campus. 17 percent of students across the four campuses reported experiencing prejudice or discrimination “sometimes” or “frequently.” 61 percent of students systemwide reported that they would not know how to make a complaint of discrimination. 96 percent of students systemwide reported that their instructors created a respectful, non-judgmental learning environment. 66.1 percent of all respondents agreed that the university is racially and ethnically diverse.

The study, commissioned by the regents, was the first of its kind to measure social climate across all four CU campuses.

The regents approved the survey last June with a budget of up to $110,000.

A total of 9,301 people completed the survey, which represents more than 12 percent of university students, faculty and staff members systemwide. On the Boulder campus, 4,455 people filled out the online survey, including 890 faculty members, 1,159 staff members and 2,406 students.

All faculty members, employees and students were invited to fill out the online survey, and the polling firms said respondents were a representative sample.

The survey, conducted by research firms McLaughlin and Associates and FrederickPolls, found that 82 percent of students, 75 percent of faculty members and 74 percent of staff members feel the university promotes an environment of respect, regardless of social identity.

However, among students, the areas respondents felt least respected were for their political philosophies and political affiliations. In the category of gender, 88 percent of students felt respected, compared to 72 percent for their political philosophy and 70 percent for their political affiliation.

While those numbers are still high, Sharkey said they point to areas the university can work to improve. She said Republican faculty members and students were likely the ones experiencing more feelings of disrespect.

Sharkey said she’s heard anecdotal evidence of Boulder faculty members feeling uncomfortable identifying themselves publicly as Republican.

She and Regent Jim Geddes, R-Sedalia, initially brought forth the campus climate survey last summer during a discussion about conservatives feeling discriminated against on the Boulder campus. The final iteration of the survey included questions about gender, race, ethnicity, religion, veteran status, ability status and a variety of other identities.

Overall, Sharkey said the numbers showed that the university is creating an inclusive and accepting environment for all identities.

She said she was proud of the board for taking unprecedented action in trying to gauge, and later address, discrimination throughout the university system.

“We want to identify where there’s discrimination, and we want to work to improve it,” she said. “That is groundbreaking for a university system. It really does send a strong message not just to Colorado, but really nationwide, that the University of Colorado cares about this issue. Discrimination is not acceptable in any category.”

Contact Staff Writer Sarah Kuta at 303-473-1106, kutas@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/sarahkuta.