CSLI Advisory Board Sept. 18/20 2007 Agenda: Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey Review discuss Fall 2007 Survey Discuss possible themes for Spring.

CSLI Advisory BoardSept. 18/20 2007

Agenda:Review/discuss CSLI History and Board SurveyReview discuss Fall 2007 SurveyDiscuss possible themes for Spring 2008 SurveyAny other new/old business

Center for the Study of Local IssuesAnne Arundel Community College

101 College ParkwayArnold, MD 21012-1895http:www2.aacc.edu/csli

[email protected]

Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey

Historical Background:CSLI’s three periods1. Creation and operation as part of Division of Social

Sciences: 1978-19992. Operation under Vice President for Learning 2000-

2006 3.Operation as part of Paul S. Sarbanes Center for

Public and Community Service 2006-present

Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey

Budget

Director reported to…

Institutional Linkage

Income: Retains all project income

Costs: P-T? assistant; 2 course release time for Director

Income: Retains all project income

Costs: F-T assistant; 2 course release time for Director

Income: $1000 from AACC + % of project income

Costs: P-T assistant; 2 course release time for Director

Director of Sarbanes Center

Vice President of Learning

Associate Dean of Social Sciences

Sarbanes CenterLearningDivision of Social Sciences

2006-present2000-20051978-1999Phase

Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey: Student Involvement

Phase 1978-1999 2000-2005 2006-present

Semi-annual surveys Semi-annual survey – recruit students via social science division for extra credit

Semi-annual survey – recruit students via social science division and some other courses for extra credit

Semi-annual survey – recruit students via business, math, science, English and social science courses division for extra credit and service learning

Paid student activity Students hired when needed for paid projects

Students hired when needed for paid projects

Students hired when needed for paid projects; student interns hired

Other student involvement

Occasionally used in candidate forums, some tie-in with research methods course

Occasional use in forums, start of CSLI student club for lunch meetings with invited guests

Expanded use of students for survey input, invited to CSLI events – board meetings, external presentations

Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey: Projects

PhaseCSLI Projects

1995-1999 2000-2005 2006-present

Paid *Anne Arundel County Housing Authority *AA County Executive’s Office

*AACPS

*MD Comptroller’s Office

*Systems Reform Initiative

*Leadership Anne Arundel

*AA County Police

*Association for Women in Communications

*AA County Rec and Parks

*Annapolis+Anne Arundel Chamber*Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis

*1st Night Annapolis

*AACPS

*MD DNR

*Leadership Anne Arundel

*Housing Commission of AA County

*Annapolis+Anne Arundel Chamber*Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis

*AAMC

*AACC/AACPS

*City of Annapolis

*AA County Econ Dev. Corp

*Capital Newspaper *AA Cty Police

*1st Night Annapolis *AA Cty Libraries

*Coordinating Center

*Coordinating Center

*Housing Commission of AA County

*Annapolis+Anne Arundel Chamber*AA County Police

*AA County Libraries

Donated Indian Creek -4th graders survey Maryland Hall Strategic Planning Consulting Workforce Housing Survey

College *Focus Groups - PEP employee assessment;

*Collaboration with Rich Cerkovnick – assessment of Teacher Training,

*Women’s Center – Dating Violence Study;

*Part-Time Faculty Needs/Expectations Study;

*International Education Campus Survey;

*Numerous Online Academy Surveys

*Focus groups - Learning Outcomes Assessment;

*Online Academy Survey

Review/discuss CSLI History and Board Survey: Major Innovations

Phase 1995-1999 2000-2005 2006-present

Major Innovations

1995 – Start use of disk based samples, eliminates use of labor intensive ‘Criss-Cross’

1996 – Director attends American Association of Public Opinion Research conferences annually

1997 – Advisory Board created;

1997 - CSLI Web site created

1999 – Identified source of free telephone samples

2001 - Online surveys developed;

2004 – Occasional campus presentations of CSLI findings

2005 - Started using computer labs for telephone interviews;

2005 - Implemented computer-based telephone interviewing

2005 – Creation of CSLI student club

2006 – Expanding use of service learning students

2006 – Expanded use of AACC TV to broadcast cand. forums

2007 – Hired student interns

2007 – CSLI presentation to P-T faculty

2007 – Possible student focus groups

2007-08 - Web-panel

2007-08 – Board changes

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Mission: Students, Community, Faculty, College

Section

AACC Value

% "High"

CountyValue%“High" Expand Same

Contract/Elim.

Student Involvement 83 48 25 48 0

Semi-annual surveys 74 60 26 57 0

New Survey Initiatives 50 67 46 18 9

Paid and donated CSLI services 73 51 24 51 0

Community Outreach 78 79 18 66 11

College Research 94 45 39 43 0

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – AACC Value

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – County Value

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – “Overall Value” Compared

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Scope: Expand, Retain, Contract

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Conclusions about Sections

1. Generally high marks for all sections, especially for value to AACC

2. Sections most favored for expansion: college research and web-panel

3. Sections likely to be stable or gradually increased – student involvement, paid/donated CSLI services, semi-annual surveys

4. Sections which should be retained as is, neither expanded nor contracted – community outreach

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey: Changes to Board’s Role

Previous model: Board met twice a year with this general agenda1. A brief overview of CSLI projects and initiatives2.A review of findings from the previous survey3.A presentation and discussion about a draft survey submitted to the board by the CSLI director4.Any ideas about new survey topics for future polls5.Adjournment.

Proposed model: Full board meets twice a year with this general agenda1.Board chair calls meeting to order2.Committee chairs present/discuss committee activity and initiatives

• Chairs/committees/director meet as needed3.Director reviews ongoing CSLI activities, concerns4.Director presents draft survey5.Any other new/old business6.Adjournment

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Changes to Board’s Role

7a.  Given the changes described above, would you remain on the revamped CSLI board?

Absolutely 50%

Probably 42%

Unsure 8%

7b.  Would you be willing to serve as a chair of one committee dealing with topics like "surveys," "student involvement," "community outreach/media relations," "research  projects”

Yes 17%

Unsure/time? 67%

Unsure 17%

7c.  If you were to participate as a member of one of the committees mentioned above, which committees would interest you the most?

Surveys = 40%

Student involvement = 20%

Community outreach = 50%

Research projects = 30%

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Changes to Board’s Role

What happens next?Think about your future role on the CSLI board

Director will communicate with each current boardmember and ask:

1. Do you want to stay on the board?

2. Do you want to be chair of the board?

3. Do you want to be chair of a committee?

4. Which committee do you want to be on?

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix A: Full Results

AACC Value County Value Scale/Scope

% "High" % "High" Expand Same Contract/ElimStudent Involvement 83 48 25 48 0Extra-credit/service learning in semi annual survey 75 58 18 55 0Paid student interns 82 42 27 46 0CSLI student club 83 50 27 46 0Overall value of student involvement 92 42 27 46 0Semi-annual surveys 74 60 26 57 0Results in local media 75 67 27 55 0Access to press releases via web 91 64 30 60 0Campus presentations 64 18 10 60 0Community presentations 67 75 36 46 0Overall value of semi-annual surveys 75 75 27 64 0New Survey Initiatives Create web panel 50 67 46 18 9Paid and donated CSLI services 73 51 24 51 0Paid projects 67 42 36 46 0Use of students 82 36 20 40 0Use of faculty 73 27 10 60 0Overall benefit 75 50 27 55 0Donated services 67 100 27 55 0Community Outreach 78 79 18 66 11TV and radio 83 86 27 55 9Newspaper quotations 80 60 11 67 11Moderator candidate forums 70 100 0 86 14Overall value 80 70 33 56 11College Research 94 45 39 43 0Research conducted on behalf of college 100 42 36 46 0Research assisting other faculty on campus 100 50 46 36 0Overall value of CSLI college assistance 83 42 36 46 0

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about student involvement in CSLI activities:

“A great way to get students interested in their communities, in research, in the subjects of the surveys, in government. Also less costly than hiring individuals to do these activities.”

“Student interns and other collaborators are crucial to the success of sensitive survey projects.”

Comments about CSLI’s generation and use of survey findings:

“These reports are virtually unique in our entire region -- especially so for a community college. They are fervently welcomed in politically and socially oriented group meetings, and they convey indelibly favorable impressions of the College on participants.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s proposed development of a web panel or other new activities the Center should consider:

“Telephone calls can and often do come at inconvenient times. Using this methodology should allow the respondent to answer the survey questions at their own convenience .”

“Gathering email addresses" does not sound like an effective way to garner a random sample. Without random sampling the survey is of little use.”

“Agree that with cell phones as only phones, the information gathered is biased toward older people and response rates are not as high. The CDC is looking at ways to change the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System methodology to reflect this issue.”

“Major universities have converted their own surveys to email panels, with beneficial results. (I'm too new to the area to propose substantial additions to the CSLI agenda, but I'm in favor of whatever enhances student and community awareness of public events.”

“The problem with opt in surveys by email is that we will be surveying only people who like to participate in surveys.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s sponsored and donated research projects, including any ideas about ways that CSLI can increase its visibility and generate more research projects:

“Is CSLI a registered federal contract agency? There might be business through the federal government. Also, many of the federal grants require a rigorous scientific evaluation of success - so rigorous that we at the Health Dept. don't apply because we d .”

“Benefits of such activities to the institution (AACC) are incalculable. To enhance salience, student/faculty teams should appear frequently at group meetings, public events, and political gatherings -- to spread the word.”

“Contact the 110 agencies that utilize the AACC service learning program to let them know about the survey service and give them examples of what other agencies have asked AACC to survey.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s community outreach and media relations efforts:

“The welcome obtained throughout the community speaks for itself. The man is worth his weight in gold.”

Comments about CSLI’s college oriented research:

“I would think that these studies can improve the curriculum and other services offered by the college. That, in turn, improves the value of living in the County.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about proposed changes to the CSLI board:

“The changes seem quite interesting. I would very much like to be part of this.”

“I think Board members should be expected to read the results of the previous survey themselves since you send the materials out beforehand, and the meetings should focus on the future, whether it's new surveys, a review of suggested topics, etc.”

“Unable to comment, having just been invited to the board.”

“I think this is a good idea- I have served on many boards in the past - those that are Working boards versus advisory boards have better retention and participation. The trick is to get rid of the people who only want it on their resume- using a Board of Directors job description that is specific about this being a working board helps to keep people off who don't…”

“Well thought out survey!”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s two greatest strengths:

“Nobody else collects survey data on the local level. The director does a great job providing quality survey result with the use of novice volunteers.”

“Asset to the college in developing surveying and analysis skills that can help students in furthering their studies or performing job related research.”

“Asset to the County, its politicians and government entities in assessing the political and social issues.”

“1) It fills part of an enormous gap in public awareness of policy matters that must be taken seriously.2) It brings highly creditable notoriety to the college.”

“Director's knowledge of survey research.”

“The teamwork of the Director, staff, faculty, and students involved in each project.”

“Connection to the community and good reputation.”

“1. Community acceptance.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s two greatest weaknesses:

“Much of each survey is composed of the same tired question(s) that do not change very often. I would like to have the data made available to students in raw form, so that they could use it to conduct their own original research with the data (i.e., test hypotheses).”

“Not sure. I do not understand very well how CSLI fits into the college's governance and structure. Is it similar to UMBC's "Centers," which do research and provide staff support to state projects? I'm not sure how many of the Centers' staff are faculty members, but I typically come in contact with them when the state contracts with them (pretty easy to do, since they're the State, too) for such things as Medicaid program development or grant development.”

“Unable to identify these with any assurance; possibly, CSLI depends too critically upon its admirable director.”

“Getting harder each year to get the public to participate in telephone interviews.Both paid and unpaid projects in CSLI can be affected by students willingness and commitment to participate, especially when their school work should always take precedence. “

“Having only an advisory board and funding limitations.”

“Limited availability of research results to the general public.”

CSLI’s Future - Board Survey – Appendix B: Open Ended Comments

Comments about CSLI’s evolution in next five years:

“I would like to see the data more actively used for scholarly research about the county. The univariate analysis that the center produces is interesting, but it should be the starting place for students who are interested in studying local government.”

“I'll need to wait and see. Thanks for asking.”

“Since I think CSLI is great as it is right now, I would just like to see it get even better with more student, faculty, and Advisory Board involvement.”

“Expand distribution of CSLI to the General Public with more aggressive publicrelations program.”