UCSF Blueprint: Guide

A Guide for Making Meaning of the UCSF Community Climate Survey Data and Creating an Action Plan

What to Expect

The climate survey results will provide information about both the strengths and opportunities for improvement in your school or department’s current climate. This guide will help you:

  • Review and reflect on the UCSF Community Climate Survey 2025 results
  • Discuss reactions and reflections as a group
  • Create an action plan with interventions to address areas of concern or opportunity

When reviewing the data:

  • Use a learner perspective: Be open to what the data show about the experiences of respondents
  • Notice both areas of strength and areas of concern or opportunity
  • Pay attention to surprising findings and those that align with what may have been expected
  • Explore the data as an opportunity for insight into the feelings and experiences of members of your department/school
  • Discuss how the data may point to actionable interventions

Use the steps below to guide the process of making meaning of the data and creating an action plan.

1. Explore the Data

Review the climate survey results and discuss initial reactions. Consider the following reflection questions together as a committee or small group:

  1. Which data findings catch your attention? Just the facts.
  2. What do the data tell us? What do the data NOT tell us?
  3. What good news is there to celebrate?
  4. What are the opportunities suggested by the data?
  5. What are your impressions as you look at the different groups and their experiences?
  6. What trends by groups are you identifying?
  7. Do the responses or the experiences of any specific groups stand out to you? If so, what concerns or opportunities do you see?
  8. What are your biggest hopes for the future in terms of school or departmental climate?
  9. Take a moment to reflect on your responses to the data. How are you experiencing all the results?
2. Identify Priority Areas

Identify priority areas based on the data and suggest strategies to address them. Priority areas can include organizing by groups (e.g., focusing on staff) or themes (e.g., advancement and promotion or mentoring and support). Use the questions below to reflect and the Action Planning Worksheet to organize your priority areas.

  1. Considering your data review, what are your biggest concerns about groups and/or climate in the school or department?
  2. What are the key conclusions and themes?
  3. Considering both what is actionable and where you feel you can have a positive impact, what issues or topics are you most interested in addressing or prioritizing at this time, and why?
3. Create an Action Plan

Use the Toolkit to help identify strategies and interventions to address your department’s priority areas. The Toolkit is a collection of interventions and strategies designed to help departments address findings from the UCSF Community Climate Survey. It includes practical tools and examples implemented by departments during the Blueprint pilot at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC San Francisco.

Every department is unique, and while the Toolkit includes tested strategies, the process of creating an action plan is flexible. Think of the Toolkit as a starting point—a resource for inspiration and guidance as you tailor interventions to fit the unique dynamics of your department or school.

After exploring the data and ideas for interventions, use the Action Planning Worksheet template to draft your action plan.

4. Communicate, Gather Feedback, and Evaluate

Consistent communication and feedback gathering are essential to building trust and fostering collaboration within your department or school. It is critical to provide regular updates about the school’s or department's progress and commitment to building a healthy climate for all. To keep moving forward, adjustments may be necessary, and you or your department/school members may need to adapt.

Build in systems for input and evaluation.

  • Receive ongoing feedback from your department/school members.
  • Check in at the end of each committee meeting.
  • Explore progress after an activity is completed or halfway through the activity.

Take time throughout the process to evaluate.

  • Is your plan being carried out?
  • How well did your plan work out?
  • Did you leave out any steps?
  • Was there enough time?
  • Was there enough budget to carry out the interventions?
  • How did you respond to any emerging issues?
  • What has been achieved thus far?
  • Did you engage the right partners at the right time?
  • What are your department/school members saying?
  • How effectively did you handle conflicts or disagreements?

At key completion moments, take time to evaluate the results of the Action Plan.

  • What changes did you want to see in behaviors and attitudes?
  • Did you see these changes?
  • Did you celebrate the achievements (even the small ones)?

Now that you have evaluated the process or the results of your Action Plan, consider what needs to change and what are the next steps.

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