Overview of the

1

• Overview of the
• Center for the Study of Local Issues
• March 30, 2006
• Presented by
• Dan Nataf, Ph.D
• Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues
• Anne Arundel Community College
• 101 College Parkway
• Arnold, MD 21012
• [phone]
• [phone] fax
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• ddnataf_at_aacc.edu
• www2.aacc.edu/csli

2
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Origins, Staffing, Mission

• Established by social science faculty in 1978
• Current staff Director (6 credits release time),
  ½ time program specialist
• Mission
• Help students better understand applied social
  science research methods and civic engagement by
  participating in CSLI activities
• Serve community and local government by offering
  research services and communicating survey
  findings
• Provide opportunities for faculty professional
  development
• Help AACC understand its environment through
  relevant data collection and analysis

3
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning
• Help students better understand applied social
  science research methods by participating in CSLI
  activities
• Improve students civic awareness/engagement
• Semi-annual surveys
• Externally funded projects
• Service Learning
• CSLI Student Club

4
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning - Surveys
• Semi-annual surveys
• Answer the questions 1. How do social
  scientists gather data to measure variables and
  test hypotheses?
• 2. What are important issues facing the
  community and government?
• Students have the opportunity to participate as
  telephone interviewers for one evening
• Receive training in interviewing methods
• Review survey questionnaire in detail
• Increases both methodological and civic awareness
  

5
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning
• Semi-annual surveys Objectives achieved
• Students are surveyed about the quality of their
  experiences
• Spring 2006 55 rated their learning experience
  as excellent, 39 as good
• 94 were very satisfied with overall quality of
  training received
• 84 would consider participating in another
  similar CSLI survey in the future
• From 1995 to 2006 1260 students have
  participated
• Spring 2006 18 faculty participated

6
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning Externally funded
  projects
• Typically using telephone interviewer skills
  acquired during semi-annual survey
• Data entry
• Director discusses nature of projects with
  students, rationale for research design, how
  client will use findings, etc.
• About 210 students have been employed by CSLI in
  a paid capacity since 1995.

7
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning Service Learning
• Service Learning
• Recent initiative
• Find projects which involve students more fully
  in survey research
• Participate in questionnaire design, discussions
  about administrative methodologies, analysis of
  findings
• Report back to their classes
• Spring 2006 5 students participating in a
  survey project aimed at learning more about
  student course and future work expectations

8
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Student Learning

• Mission Student Learning CSLI Student Club
• CSLI Student Club
• Recent initiative
• Provide a structure for students to collaborate
• Field trips Congress, campaign organizations
• Invite guest speakers candidates
• Communicate internship opportunities
• See http//www2.aacc.edu/csli/club/csliclub.html

9
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Serve Community and Government

• This goal is achieved by
• Semi-annual surveys community outreach
• Externally paid research projects
• Semi-annual surveys take pulse of community on
  important issues
• Surveys themes include
• Growth/Development
• Transportation
• Economic conditions
• Education
• Tax and spending preferences
• Policy preferences
• Typical sample size 300-525 respondents from
  Anne Arundel County only Spring, 2006 401
  respondents
• Unique contribution Only community college
  regularly polling local area

10
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Serve Community and Government

• Semi-annual surveys community outreach after
  taking the survey
• CSLIs Web site for previous surveys
  (http//www2.aacc.edu/csli)
• Repository of survey findings
• All press releases since 1995 posted
• Interactive search by topic and question for all
  questions asked since 1995
• Provides other information about CSLI
  structure, mission, staff, contact info
• CSLI public speaking
• CSLI Director on speakers bureau average of
  one presentation per month during school year
• Examples from 2005-2006
• Greater Severna Park Council
• Annapolis Rotary Club
• Baywoods Retirement Center
• Community Services Board of Anne Arundel County
• Eastport Republican Club
• Almost 730 Democratic Club
• Green Party (Annapolis)
• Institute for Criminal Justice meeting on
  Terrorism
• Annapolis Kiwanis

11
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Serve Community and Government

• Semi-annual surveys community outreach after
  taking the survey
• Community outreach Radio/TV
• Radio interviews WNAV 1430AM after every survey
  since 2001
• Election color commentary on WNAV 2002, 2004 (3
  students used as interns), 2005
• TV appearance (Annapolis elections, 2005)
• Community outreach Newspapers
• Over 100 citations between 2002-2004 (Capital,
  Baltimore Sun)
• CSLI mentioned by Governing magazine in 2002
• Community outreach Candidate forums
• 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006 County executive,
  council races, others.
• Community outreach Advisory Board
• Composed of elected officials, Anne Arundel
  County department representatives (public works,
  health, police, fire, school board) and community
  leaders

12
Surveys Provide Pulse of County Countys
Direction Right or Wrong?

Right
13
Surveys Provide Pulse of County ?Focus on the
Economy Local Economy Looks Good

• Economic optimism Thinking about our county's
  economy, how would you rate economic conditions
  in Anne Arundel County today -- excellent, good,
  only fair, or poor?

County
National
14
Surveys Provide Pulse of County Perception of
Issues in 2010 ? Negative expectations for all
major issues except economy

15
Surveys Provide Pulse of County Economic
Anxiety Concerns about the cost of living
Cost Very serious Somewhat serious Not very serious No answer
The cost of housing 65 23 11 0
The cost of utilities such as electricity or natural gas 63 29 8 0
The cost of gasoline 62 30 8 0
The cost of health care 58 28 11 2
Not having enough money for retirement 57 24 16 3
The cost of education 51 29 16 5
The cost of property taxes 49 37 12 2
16
Surveys Provide Pulse of County Most Important
Issues Facing AA County Residents 1995-2006 -
Trends for Major Issues

17
Surveys Provide Pulse of County How Prepared
are Local Authorities in Event of Terrorist
Strike - Trend
Katrina
18
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Serve Community and Government

• Externally financed projects 56 such projects
  1995-2006
• Revenue generated 240,000
• Wide variety of sponsors (projects described on
  CSLI Web site)
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools
• Association of Women in Communication
• Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and
  Parks
• Maryland Comptrollers Office
• Anne Arundel County Executive Commission on
  Women
• Anne Arundel Police Department
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis
• Capital newspaper
• Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of
  Commerce
• Anne Arundel County Economic Development
  Corporation
• Leadership Anne Arundel
• WNAV radio station
• Annapolis Regional Transportation Project (city,
  county, state).
• Anne Arundel County Public Library System

19
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission Faculty Professional Development

• Faculty professional development through
  externally financed projects
• Participating faculty have included
• Jerina Wainwright
• Mara Kent-Skruch
• Hal Counihan
• Rayner Wharton
• Lester Brooks
• Steve Steele
• Ken Chatelaine

20
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission College Environment Scanning

• College-oriented questions asked on surveys
• Examples include
• When you think about AACC's image, which of the
  following phrases appear important to you? (Fall
  1999)

Important Not important
 Affordable 97 3
Wide selection of courses 92 8
 Easy access 90 10
 Good selection of class times 90 10
Community oriented 85 15
Technologically on the cutting edge 79 21
Helpful for advancing in my career 78 22
Helps foster good citizenship 76 24
21
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues Mission College Environment Scanning

• College-oriented questions asked on surveys
• Spring 2004

Knowing that about 60 percent of the community college budget is based on state and county contributions and the rest in tuition, do you think taxes should be increased, tuition should be increased again, or programs cut to best deal with budget cuts?
Increase taxes 33
Increase tuition again 25
Cut programs 23
Dont know 19
From what you know about the community college, would you rate it as being excellent, good, fair or poor?
Excellent 49
Good 42
Fair 6
Poor 0
Dont know 6
22
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County Recent
Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of
Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local
Issues The CSLI Model

• Contacts with other colleges seeking info about
  CSLI
• Cumberland Community College (NJ)
• Brookdale Community College (NJ)
• Jefferson Community College (NY)
• Presentations about CSLI have been made at
  meetings of the Consortium for Community College
  Development
• The Future