The Center for the Study of Local

Issues: Overview

Review CSLI History/Mission

Opportunities for Student Learning and Civic AwarenessYour Help

Dan Nataf, Ph.D., DirectorCenter for the Study of Local IssuesAnne Arundel Community College

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

ddnataf@aacc.edu410.777.2733

CSLI History and Mission

Historical Background: CSLI’s three periods

1. Creation and operation as part of Division of Social Sciences: 1978-1999 – a community college ‘research center’

2. Operation under Vice President for Learning 2000-2006

3.Operation as part of Paul S. Sarbanes Center for Public and Community Service 2006-present

– Advisory Board – provides guidance

CSLI History and Mission

Provide students opportunities to better understand applied social science research methods while encouraging civic awareness and engagement

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

Mission – four elements

Mission: Provide students opportunities to better understand applied social science research methods while encouraging civic awareness and engagement

Participation in community surveys

Participation in client based research projects

Student internships

CSLI student club

CSLI History and Mission

Activities providing student opportunities

Community Surveys

1. Conducted in March and October2. Telephone interviews – 400-900 completions3. Press releases4. Public presentations5. Media outreach6. Web site (http://www2.aacc.edu/csli)

CSLI’s Signature Product: The Semi-annual Survey

Community Surveys

Service Learning• Five contacts with CSLI

• Introductory meeting – CSLI mission, previous findings, review survey methodology

• 3 nights of telephone interviews• Final meeting – brainstorm survey process –

pros and cons, findings, SPSS/hypotheses testing

Semi-annual survey – how students participate

Community Surveys

Extra Credit• Instructor determines number/character of contacts

with CSLI• Examples:

• 1 or 2 nights of telephone interviewing• Introductory meeting, 1 night of telephone

interviews, final meeting

Semi-annual survey – how students participate

Community Surveys: Survey Content

Suggestions for Survey content• Instructor uses themes from course to suggest

survey topics, discusses with students• Examples:

• Chemistry – global warming, public perceptions, policy options

• Business – marketing, public perceptions of small business, business climate

• Sociology/political science/human services, English – gender gap, perceptions of race and class, policy and partisanship

Semi-annual survey – how students participate

Semi-annual Surveys: Major Topics

• Most important issue facing residents of the county• Economic conditions in the county• Wind turbines• Ambulance fees, slots, drinking age, land use• President Bush’s job approval• Presidential horse race – estimate election results• Lots of demographic info: age, income, occupational

status, race, religion, gender, party, ideology

Semi-annual survey – topics over the last couple of years

Semi-annual Surveys: Sample of FindingsEconomic conditions in Anne Arundel County

Graph 1: Economic Conditions

21 27 36 35 32 22 22 23 23 22 2536 37

6060 50 51 55

62 56 60 62 59 5949 43

14 6 5 5 7 12 15 14 9 12 10 6 6

Fair

Good

Excel.

010

2030

4050

6070

8090

100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don’t know

Semi-annual Surveys: Sample of Findings

“Do you think that the STATE government should make it easier to install wind turbines to generate energy, even in scenic places like across the river from Annapolis where the old radio antennas are located or in state parks in Western Maryland?”

Semi-annual Surveys: Sample of Findings State and Local Issues, Fall 2008

Support Oppose Unsure Noanswer

Total

A $500 ambulance fee to help pay for county services?

26 67 6 1 100

Creating or increasing fees to sports leagues that use public parks to cover the maintenance of those parks?

50 45 4 1 100

Increasing impact fees on new construction in our county?

63 31 5 1 100

Increasing the tax on hotel stays from 7 percent to 10 percent

33 59 6 1 99

Efforts by police to identify illegal immigrants and refer them to federal immigration services?

70 25 4 1 100

Environmental measures meant to restrict development in critical areas?

84 11 3 1 99

Decreasing the drinking age to 18 29 68 2 1 100

Semi-annual Surveys: Sample of FindingsPresident Bush’s Job Approval in Anne Arundel County vs. USA

3934 35

2824

05

1015202530354045

Fall '06 Spring '07 Fall '07 Spring '08 Fall '08

CSLI Gallup

Semi-annual Surveys: Sample of FindingsPolitical Horse Race: Estimating Election Results

Plans for the Future: Online Surveys

Web panel – email addresses collected each survey

• Offers possibilities of occasional topical surveys

• More options for faculty and students to participate

Mission: Student Participation, Community OutreachActivity: External funded projects

Externally financed projects – 60 such projects 1995-2007Revenue generated: $250,000+

Anne Arundel County Public SchoolsAssociation of Women in CommunicationAnne Arundel County Department of Recreation and ParksMaryland Comptroller’s OfficeAnne Arundel County Executive – Commission on WomenAnne Arundel Police DepartmentMaryland Department of Natural ResourcesHousing Authority of the City of AnnapolisCapital newspaperAnnapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of CommerceAnne Arundel County Economic Development CorporationLeadership Anne ArundelWNAV radio stationAnnapolis Regional Transportation Project (city, county, state).Anne Arundel County Public Library System

Activity: External funded projects – student roles

Students help organize and carry out project related tasks

•Data collection•Data analysis•Statistical analysis•Report editing

Other Student-related Activities: Student Internships

Student Internships: students participate in all aspects of CSLI activities

• Manage projects• Attend presentations• Write/edit reports• Independent research• Client contacts

Other Student-related Activities: Student Club

Student Club: Organized in 2005

• Attend political events – Obama campaign event in Prince George’s County, local political party dinners, • Lunch with invited guests - journalists, elected officials, government administrators, others• Visit political institutions – MD General Assembly, Congress• Speeches – at think tanks, universities, Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs, Brookings Institute• Candidate forums - help organize and staff

How can you help CSLI?

Recruit students for CSLI activities

Use CSLI findings in your courses

Make survey topic suggestions

Tell us about any research interests you have – client projects may require your expertise!

Join the CSLI board

Get on the CSLI mailing list (check Web site)