Beneath the Surface: Documenting Culture to Drive Change in Physics Graduate Programs

This talk presents findings from the Inclusive Graduate Programs: An AGEP Pilot in Physics, a project aimed at exploring the culture of equity, inclusion, and approaches to educational change within participating AGEP physics graduate programs. To investigate these dimensions, the research team used instruments, including the Aspects of Student Experience Scale (ASES) to capture graduate students’ experiences, and the Culture around Systemic Change (CSC) survey to assess departmental practices related to change efforts. We will share results from both surveys, as well as insights from interviews with students and faculty. We conclude by highlighting how departments are using these data to inform and guide their equity and inclusion initiatives.