Download QUESTIONS FOR ROY Note: The answers provided in this

QUESTIONS FOR ROY
Note: The answers provided in this questionnaire are confidential and should not be shared
with anyone outside of Prof. Mignon’s Survey Research class at UMass Lowell.
1. Would you prefer that the surveys be anonymous or confidential?
Confidential.
2. Who is going to administer the surveys to the ADP?
ADP staff or UTEC AmeriCorps members.
3. What incentives do you think encourage students to attend the program?
For most students, the primary incentive is their desire to earn their high school
diploma. However, some of our students also need to be enrolled in school to receive
public assistance or satisfy requirements of probation.
4. What type of survey should be conducted? Would you prefer mostly closed-ended
questions, open-ended questions, or both?
Probably a combination of both types of questions.
5. How can we help the ADP staff to better understand the impact of ADP on students who
participate?
Not sure what you mean.
6. What differences are present in the climate at ADP compared to that of the students’
previous high schools?
ADP is very intentional about relationship and community building. I would like to
collect data that could compare our students levels of participation in ADP activities
such as UTEC Youth Voice (our student-run newspaper), Community Council (our
form of self-government), Talking Circles, SLAM! (our debate team), with their levels
of participation in similar types of activities at Lowell High School. I suspect our
students did not participate in those types of activities at LHS, so it would be great to
be able to document that.
7. Are there community partners that fund and/or assist the ADP, such as social services or
other organizations?
Our main institutional partners are currently:
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AmeriCorps (ADP has two f/t AmeriCorps members)
Appalachian Mountain Club / Youth Opportunities Program (hiking/camping)
Mill City Grows (community gardening/food justice issues)
Middlesex Community College (Dual Enrollment Program)
uAspire (college and financial aid advising)
Lowell Community Health Center (sexual health class)
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New England Quilt Museum (art class)
However, we are also exploring creating or deepening partnerships with
 UMass Lowell Graduation School of Education
 Merrimack Repertory Theatre
 Lowell Industrial History Center (Boot Mill /Canal tours)
 Lowell National Historic Park
8. Are there a few common problems among students you are already aware of that we should
focus on in our survey?
The most common problem for students is attendance. Our students face many
obstacles to pursuing their education stemming from living in poverty, substance
abuse, mental health issues, unstable housing, and family pressures such as child
care and the need to support their family or themselves financially.
9. Is there an SEL program at work or in the works at UTEC? If not, how are SE issues being
handled currently and is there a plan to expand on that?
ADP is deeply committed to development of students’ social emotional literacy. We
do this through the following activities:
 Fresh Inspirations: a daily Circle that features team/relationship building
activities as well as students and staff reflecting on a Question of the Day, such
as “Describe an obstacle you have overcame and how.”
 Talking Circles: a weekly Circle that helps students share their stories and
check in with each other and themselves; the process is rooted in Native
American practices and principles of Restorative/Transformative Justice.
 Community Council: Weekly meeting co-facilitated by students that gives
students an opportunity to debate issues and take action to improve our
school community.
 UTEC Youth Voice: Bi-weekly, student run newspaper.
10. What resources are available for students in the ADP program to confront these issues that
are keeping them from attending? What additional outreach tools (staff on hand, etc.) are
available?
Each student is assigned a Transitional Coach (TC) that helps students develop their
life skills and address issues they are facing. We also provide free counseling
services and substance abuse counseling on site. We also conduct home visits when
students do not show up at school.
11. How does UTEC or the ADP address gang issues that may arise?
UTEC has a Street Worker Program that does gang intervention. If necessary, ADP
can work with the Street Workers to handle situations, although this is not often
needed.
12. Have there been speakers who motivate students? Speak to them about where they may
have come from? Showing students a hopeful future?
Yes, we do have guest speakers and we also bring students to events, such as Wes
Moore’s talk last night at the Lowell Auditorium.
13. Are there counseling services available?
Yes, UTEC has a counselor on staff to whom we can refer students as well as a partner
that provide substance abuse counseling
14. Are there any programs provided by UTEC that are geared towards educating parents on
the importance of being more involved in their children’s’ lives? If not, is there any effort
towards informing parents of the resources that are available around them that focus on
communication with their children?
No, we do not currently offer any formal programs for parents, although we are in
communication with some of our students parents. Many of our students are 18
years old or older, and some do not have good relationships with their parents, so our
interactive with parents is one that must be handled with sensitivity and on a case by
case basis.
15. How many students have graduated from the ADP program?
Two students graduated last spring; two more completed the program over the
summer; and several more should finish up this fall. Prior to that, I would have to do
some additional research as the program has existed for 4 years.
16. Is there an alumni network set up for after graduation?
No. We do not have that many graduates, at least not yet. Also, the program only
recently moved to UTEC. For its first several years, ADP was physically housed at
Lowell High School, so we don’t have deep institutional memory at the moment. (For
example, I joined ADP seven months ago and its long time coordinator is no longer at
UTEC.)
17. How many students are accepted into the ADP program compared to students who
graduate?
ADP currently has 32 students enrolled, which is our maximum capacity based on
UTEC’s contractual agreement with the Lowell Public Schools.
18. Is there any help for alumni, regarding job search and/or continued education after
graduation?
We currently partner with uAspire (formerly College Access), a Boston-based
nonprofit which is providing 1:1 college and financial aid counseling.
19. What percentage of alumni goes on to continue their education?
We have not formally been collecting this information, but we would like to.