Impacts of Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence (LCICE) - Summary of Evaluation Results

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Melati

Evaluation summary of Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence (LCICE), launched in 2012 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, describing how mixed-method study findings from 2024 partnership work assess program impacts. Results show LCICE programs strengthen leadership and community membership, deepen interactions, improve conflict navigation, and support building an inclusive campus community while encouraging broader system improvement. Separate findings for the Leadership Institute and SEED course report statistically significant self-assessment gains and course participation benefits, including critical reflection, equitable dialogue, and long-term ripple effects in participants’ personal and professional lives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Summary of Evaluation Results

Background and LCICE programs

Key Evaluation Findings – Impacts of LCICE

Key Findings – Leadership Institute

Longer-term impacts: Ripple Effects Mapping

Key Findings – SEED Course

Impacts of Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence (LCICE) Summary of Evaluation Results In 1998, the University of Wisconsin-Madison began offering opportunities for staff, faculty, and students to engage in reflection of our lived experiences in learning communities. In 2012, the Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence (LCICE) unit formally launched, providing dialogueand cohort-based professional learning opportunities with the ultimate goal of creating a better campus climate for all. Wilder Research partnered with LCICE in 2024 to learn the impacts of its two flagship programs: the Leadership Institute (LI – a program for faculty and staff) and Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED – a student program) . The following provides main evaluation findings. KEY EVALUATION FINDINGS – IMPACTS OF LCICE Through a mixed methods study – which included an analysis of course evaluations, self-assessments, facilitated discussion, and ripple effects mapping – results show that LCICE programs help its participants to: Become better leaders and community members Deepen their interactions with others and better navigate conflict Build a stronger inclusive UW-Madison community Work to improve broader systems and communities How do we have these conversations…that include folks that are on both sides…[it’s] hard, sacred work. But I'm learning through my experiences of LI that building authentic community means everybody. – LI participant KEY FINDINGS – LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE By comparing pre-and post-ratings on self-assessments, Leadership Institute participants reported statistically significant improvement in the following areas: Identifying their own biases and the impact of their behavior on others Respectfully interacting and building relationships with people who are different from themselves Navigating conflict with people different from themselves Building strong, inclusive communities at UW-Madison 1. Self-assessment results show significant growth in Leadership Institute participants (N=94-96) I am able to identify my own socially constructed biases, rules, and expectations I am able to identify how my biases, prejudices, and stereotypes reveal themselves in my interactions with others I solicit feedback from others to better understand my impact vs my intent I am able to identify social/cultural differences in verbal and non-verbal communication styles I am able to develop relationships with those different from myself I am able to effectively negotiate conflict in the workplace with others from social identity backgrounds different than my own I am able to respond to prejudices, biases, and stereotypical statements, actions, and insinuations in an effective manner I lead by building an inclusive community which recognizes and incorporates differences in the identities and perspectives of all of its members I lead by identifying what's working welland what we collectively want more of 0 Pre-rating Post-rating 5.03 4.46 4.38 5.06 5.03 4.54 5.00 5.05 7.41 6.99 6.49 7.03 7.73 6.60 6.80 6.88 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 No Moderately confident Total confidence This table presents a selection of survey items that showed statistical significant change from pre-to post-test. For a full listing of all LI assessment survey items and more information on the methods and analysis used, please see the full report, Understanding the Impact of Learning Communities for Institutional Change & Excellence (LCICE) . Longer-term impacts of Leadership Institute: Through two Ripple Effects Mapping sessions, LI participants shared how the program continues to impact their personal and professional lives. Specifically, LI’s sustained impact includes: LI has impacted my values. It's impacted how I see things, so so so many ripple effects in my work, and in my life, and in partnerships I have across campus. There

FAQs

What is the main purpose of LCICE at UW–Madison?

LCICE provides dialogue and cohort-based professional learning to improve campus climate for all. It is designed to support participants in leadership, inclusive community building, and systems-level change.

How did Leadership Institute participants improve based on pre- and post-ratings?

Leadership Institute participants reported statistically significant growth in identifying their biases, interacting respectfully with people different from themselves, navigating conflict, and building strong inclusive communities at UW–Madison.

What outcomes did SEED course participants report after completing the program?

SEED participants reported enhanced ability to create space for honest, values-driven dialogue, reflect and think critically about personal and others’ experiences, apply course lessons to education and broader lives, and engage authentically in social justice co-creation.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Melati