An Exploration of Institutional- and Individual-Level Dimensions of Campus Climate for Queer and Trans Students at Religiously Affiliated Institutions

Abstract

In this paper, we use the Multicontextual Model of Diverse Learning Environments (MMDLE) as a framework to explore individual- and institutional-level dimensions that contribute to campus climate for queer and trans students who attended religiously affiliated institutions (RAIs). The findings nuance the perspective on RAIs beyond broad-sweeping assumptions and expand understanding of campus climate to include not only psychological and behavioral dimensions but also the compositional and organizational dimensions. Findings showcase the utility of the MMDLE, which was originally conceptualized for racial diversity to help explain the climate for other groups or marginalized students.