FOCUS Check-In Survey

As a member of FOCUS, we would like to know more about your experiences in the program and in Carleton. Your answers to these survey questions will help us understand the impact of the program on student learning at Carleton and help us improve future programming.

Your responses will be kept confidential. When individual quotes are used to illustrate important points in program reports, publications, and presentations, your name and other identifying information will not be disclosed.

Please complete the form in a single session, as your responses cannot be saved for later.

Your name: (Your responses will be kept confidential, your name is an important tool to track change over time)

Graduating Year

Part 1: FOCUS Program GoalsAs you are probably aware, the general goals of the FOCUS program are to:

Support the success of a diverse group of science and math students through their entry into the study of science/math at Carleton and as they continue in the curriculum.
Build a sense of belonging among students, in Carleton math and science departments, and in math and science communities outside of Carleton.

1. How successful is the program in meeting these goals? Please explain:

2. Under what circumstances have you contacted another FOCUS student or FOCUS Peer Mentor for help (e.g. help in deciding whether to take a particular course, a question about an assignment, study help for an upcoming test, etc.)?

3. How has the program helped you form relationships with science and math faculty and how have you benefited from these relationships?

Part 2: General STEM Learning at Carleton4. How often do you meet with a faculty mentor or advisor?

What's the most important thing that you have gained from your relationship with your advisor?

5. Where or to whom do you go to most for help when you have a particularly difficult assignment? (check all that apply)
Librarians
Math Skills Center
Career Center
Write Place
FOCUS Faculty Mentor
Course Instructor
Advisor
Advisor in the major
Fellow Classmates
Lab Assistants
Teaching Assistants
Class Prefects
Others:

6. If you have participated in a math or science research project, to what extent has it influenced you in these areas:

1=Low (confidence, interest, etc.) and 7=High (confidence, interest, etc.)

a. Interest in a particular subfield in math or science

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b. Motivation to do well in math or science courses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c. Tolerance of ambiguity and perseverance when faced with research difficulties

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d. Confidence in orally presenting your research findings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

e. Ability to use scientific literature in research writing

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

f. Application of coursework to studying a real-world problem

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

g. Interest in discovering new knowledge

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

h. Ability to get into a good graduate school

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

7. What Carleton experience, event, or circumstance has contributed the most to building your confidence in your ability to pursue a major in math or science?

8. Have any of the following problems affected your ability to pursue math and science studies at Carleton? (check all that apply)

Difficulty with time management
Difficulty developing productive strategies for studying
Lacking good faculty mentorship and/or advising
Lacking friends with the same academic interests (e.g. to provide advice about classes)
Think (or worried that others think) you are underprepared for math/science classes
Feeling isolated
Feeling like you do not belong
Financial needs/ concerns

What other barriers have you encountered that are not listed above?

How have you overcome any of these barriers?

9. For each of these items, reflect on your perceptions and please rate each area using a 5-point scale:

1 = Not at all, 5= Very (fun, likely, easy, confident, curious)

a. How much fun is math or science for you?

1 2 3 4 5

b. How likely are you to do math or science problems that are not assigned?

1 2 3 4 5

c. How likely are you to read about math or science in your spare time?

1 2 3 4 5

d. How likely are you to talk about math or science outside of work you need to do for class?

1 2 3 4 5

e. How easy is it for you to get absorbed in solving math or science problems?

1 2 3 4 5

f. How much do you enjoy solving problems using mathematics?

1 2 3 4 5

g. How much do you like the hierarchical nature of math or science?

1 2 3 4 5

h. How confident are you in your ability to do math or science?

1 2 3 4 5

i. How curious are you about math or science problems?

1 2 3 4 5

j. To what extent do you consider yourself a mathematician or scientist?

1 2 3 4 5

k. How much math and science do you know?

1 2 3 4 5

10. Do you have any suggestions for improving the FOCUS program?

Part 3: Science and Math Attitudinal Questions
11. For each of these items, reflect on your perceptions and please rate each area using a 7-point scale:

1=Low (confidence, perception, interest) and 7=High (confidence, perception, interest)
a. My level of knowledge about math and science is:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

b. I know where to find research resources.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

c. I feel comfortable in approaching faculty members when I need help.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

d. I am interested in talking about math or science outside of the work I do for my courses.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

e. I have confidence in my ability to get involved with student study groups.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

f. I have a sense of belonging at Carleton.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

g. I have a sense of belonging in the Carleton science and math departments.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

h. I am interested in taking more classes in math or science.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

i. I am interested in majoring in a math or science discipline.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

j. I am interested in a career in math or science.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

k. I see the value of math and science in everyday life.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

12.Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements using a 4 point scale:
1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Agree, and 4 = Strongly Agree

a. Even if I forget the facts, I'll still be able to use the thinking skills I learn in science and math.

1 2 3 4

b. The process of writing in math and science is helpful for understanding mathematical and scientific ideas.

1 2 3 4

c. I wish math and science instructors would just tell us what we need to know so we can learn it.

1 2 3 4

d. Creativity does not play a role in math or science.

1 2 3 4

e. Science and math are not connected to non-science fields such as history, literature, economics, or art.

1 2 3 4

f. I get personal satisfaction when I solve a scientific or mathematical problem by figuring it out myself.

1 2 3 4

g. Science and math are essentially an accumulation of facts, rules, and formulas.

1 2 3 4

h. I can do well in math or science courses.

1 2 3 4

i. There is too much emphasis in math and science classes on figuring things out for yourself.

1 2 3 4

j. Explaining science ideas or math ideas to others has helped me understand the ideas better.

1 2 3 4

k.If an experiment shows that something doesn't work, the experiment was a failure.

1 2 3 4

Part 4: General Questions13. Which program(s) are you participating in?
FOCUS
Summer Science Fellows

14. If you are graduating this spring, please briefly describe your plans for the next few years (be specific, such as "graduate school in biochemistry, work for NGO, etc. If you know where you will be doing this, please let us know this, too.)

15. If you are not yet graduating, what are you doing this summer? Check all that apply.
Paid position
Unpaid position
Summer Research
Teaching (e.g. summer program, youth camp, college prep)
Other
If other, what?

16. Please describe your job/research/teaching/other plans briefly (where, when, and what will you do?)

17. Have you participated in research prior to your most recent research experience? (check all that apply)

No, I have not had prior research experience
Yes, during one academic term (typically ~10 hr/wk)
Yes, during multiple academic term (typically ~10 hr/wk)
Yes, during a summer research program (typically full-time for at least 5 weeks)
Yes, during a prior years and/or term summers
Not applicable/prefer not to answer

18. If you have previously participated in research, please describe the most recent experience:
18a. At which institution:

18b. When:

18c. In which department:

18d. Who was the PI:

18e. Describe your project in one sentence:

18f. Have you presented your research results at an off-campus research conference? If so, please list it here:

19a. Have you participated in an off-campus study program?

Yes
No, but accepted into a program for next academic year
No

19b. If you answered "Yes" or if you are accepted into a program for next year, please tell us the term and the program you attended/will attend:

20. What would you like to see FOCUS or the Summer Science Fellows program offer next year that is new?

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