Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues March 30, 2006

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 (410) 777-2733 (410) 777-4733 fax [email protected] 1

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

Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues 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 3

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

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

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 semiannual 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. 6

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

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

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 9

Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings Mission: Serve Community and Government The Center for the Study of Local Issues Semi-annual surveys – community outreach after taking the survey CSLI’s 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 7:30 Democratic Club Green Party (Annapolis) Institute for Criminal Justice meeting on Terrorism Annapolis Kiwanis 10

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 11

Surveys – Provide Pulse of County County’s Direction: Right or Wrong? Graph 1: County - Right or Wrong Direction 66 70 60 50 54 Right 57 51 55 40 30 Wrong 26 18 20 10 Unsure 12

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?” Economic Conditions: Local and National 100 80 74 76 60 55 56 62 74 74 71 County 74 40 20 38 0 Spring 2002 AACounty Exc Good Nation Exc Good 26 27 Fall 2002 Spring 2003 22 Fall 2003 34 34 31 National Spr ing 2004 Fall 2004 Spr ing 2005 28 Fall 2005 38 Spr ing 2006 13

Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Perception of Issues in 2010 Negative expectations for all major issues except economy Fall 2004 BetterWorse Unsure Worse Better About the same No answer The overall quality of life in the County 33 43 20 13 3 1 Spiritual or religious life Economic conditions Family life General responsiveness of County government to citizens’ needs Ethics in local government Public schools Health care Growth and development Crime Water and air quality Local taxes Traffic congestion 27 33 27 23 47 40 45 47 15 23 20 20 12 10 7 3 7 3 5 8 4 1 2 1 20 28 24 30 11 17 5 3 44 28 32 20 42 32 26 5 26 36 36 46 42 49 64 92 -6 -8 -12 -16 -31 -32 -59 -89 9 7 8 3 4 2 5 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 14

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 15

Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents – 1995-2006 - Trends for Major Issues Graph 1: Most Important Issue - Trends 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Growth/Transp Crime 31% 26 18 18 28 24 31 31 27 26 26 31 30 25 22 19 20 19 12 26 13 15 28 25 21 18 Education 15 13 10 36% 9 7 9 6 12 8 Crime 16

Surveys – Provide Pulse of County How Prepared are Local Authorities in Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend 60 50 54 48 47 40 30 22 10 13 Very prepared 5 0 Katrina 48 44 37 Not very prepared 30 20 Somewhat prepared 33 27 24 15 11 15 8 11 Unsure 12 6 17

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 Comptroller’s 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 18

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

Public Opinion Overview in Anne of theArundel Center for County: the Study Recent of Local Trends Issues and Findings Mission: The Center College for the – Environment Study of Local Scanning Issues 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 79 21 Helpful for advancing in my career 78 22 Helps foster good citizenship 76 24 Technologically on the cutting edge 20

Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings Mission: College – Environment Scanning The Center for the Study of Local Issues 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 Don’t 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 Don’t know 6 21

Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The CSLI Model The Center for the Study of Local Issues 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 22