Survey of current fellows

OMB Control No.: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx
Survey of Current Fellows
Evaluation of the NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship Program
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Coastal Services Center (Center)
GEARS, Inc.

Thank you for agreeing to take part in this survey of current fellows as part of the evaluation of the NOAA
Coastal Management Fellowship Program. Your answers to the following questions will help us improve
our understanding of the effectiveness of the fellowship program and how it impacts state coastal zone
management programs and the professional goals of fellows. We are interested in your honest opinions,
both positive and negative.
This survey will take approximately 35 minutes to complete. Your participation is completely voluntary
and you may withdraw from the survey or refuse to answer any question at any time. There are no
negative consequences should you decide not to participate in the survey. Only GEARS evaluation staff
associated with this evaluation will have access to identifying information. Your survey will be combined
with other surveys and only aggregate information will be reported in findings. Your responses will be
held in the strictest confidence. All survey data will be kept in a secure location at GEARS and will be
protected by GEARS to the extent allowed by the law. If you have any questions about the evaluation
study, you can contact the lead evaluator, Dr. Deborah Brome, by telephone at 866-858-1261.

Information about Your Fellowship
Please provide the following information about your fellowship.
1. Which state coastal zone management program are you currently working?

___________________________________________________________________________
2. Please indicate what year of the fellowship you are in. (Indicate only one)
1. First year
2. Second year
3. Please indicate the topic of the primary project you are working on during the fellowship.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Please indicate the topics of additional (side) projects you are working on, if applicable.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. To date, please indicate the total number of coastal related conferences, workshops, and trainings you
have attended as a fellow.
___________________
Of that number, how many did you attend using your fellowship professional development funds?
___________________
6. Please list all the conferences where you:
a. Made an oral presentation: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
b. Made a poster presentation: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

7. To date, have trainings and meetings helped to improve your knowledge and skill level?
___Yes

___No

8. To date, have trainings and meetings allowed you to expand your professional network?
___Yes

___No

9. To date, have you received constructive feedback from your mentor?

___Yes

___No

___Yes

___No

___Yes

___No

___Yes

___No

___Yes

___No

___Yes

___No

10. If you have received constructive feedback from your mentor, was it helpful?

11. If you have not received constructive feedback from your mentor, would you like to?

12. To date, have you had an opportunity to provide feedback to your mentor?
a. If you have not, would you like such an opportunity?
13. Do you read Fellow News?

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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If you read Fellows News, what do you find most appealing?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
14. Do you use the Coastal Management Fellowship Program’s website?
__Yes __N o
If yes, can you easily find the information you are looking for?

__Yes __N o

What type of information do you seek most often?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
What topics or items currently not included on the website would you find useful?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Skills
We would like to learn more about the skills you have acquired during the fellowship program. In the table below,
please rate yourself on the skill areas provided, by placing an “x” in the appropriate box. First rate your skill level
upon entering the program and then rate your skill, to date, as a consequence of being in the program
Skills

Ratings
Since being in the Fellowship Program

Upon Entering
Nonexistent

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

No
Change

Slight
Improvement

Moderate
Improvement

Technology (GIS, remote
sensing)
Software Applications
(Excel, Access, Word, etc.)
Research (research design,
data gathering, etc.)
Management (organizational
skills, planning, time
management)
Communication (written and
oral)
Interpersonal (conflict
resolution, working in
groups, networking, working
one on one)
Science (biology, chemistry,
physics, social science,
oceanography)
Coastal Resource
Management
Coastal and Ocean Policy
Project Specific:
________________________

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High
Improvement

Fellowship Resources
Please provide your ratings and thoughts about fellowship resources by circling the number that best reflects
your answer.
1. How satisfied are you with the resources (hardware, software, office space, etc.) that the state coastal zone
management program provides you to work on your project?

1--------------------2-------------------3-------------------4------------------5
Very
Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

2. How satisfied are you with the salary and benefits you receive for the fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Very
Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

3. How satisfied are you with the networking opportunities available to you during the fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Very
Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

4. To date, how satisfied are you with the professional contacts you have made/developed during the
fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not at all
Useful

Extremely
Useful

0
Don’t
Know

5. To date, how helpful are the contacts you have had with other fellows during the fellowship program?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not at all
Helpful

Extremely
Helpful

0
Don’t
Know

6. Has contact with other fellows, during the fellowship program, allowed you to learn about the projects of
other state coastal zone management programs?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
No,
absolutely not

Uncertain/
Don’t Know

Yes,
definitely

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7. How satisfied are you with the amount of communication with the Coastal Services Center?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Very
Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

Very
Satisfied

Please comment:

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Fellowship Training
Please provide your ratings and thoughts about the training you have received in the fellowship. Where
appropriate, circle the number that best reflects your answer.
1. How useful is the formal and on the job training you receive in the fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not at all
Useful

Extremely
Useful

0
Don’t
Know

2. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the training and education you receive in the fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Poor

Excellent

0
Don’t Know

3. How would you rate the quality of the mentorship you receive in the fellowship?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Poor

Excellent

0
Don’t Know

4. To what extent is the fellowship program meeting your educational and professional needs?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not at all

A lot

0
Don’t
Know

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5. In what ways can the fellowship better meet your educational and professional needs?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6. Would you recommend this fellowship to other students?

___ Yes ___ No

Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. If you could do it all again, would you choose to participate in the Coastal Management Fellowship
Program?

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
No,
absolutely not

Uncertain/
Don’t Know

Yes,
definitely

Your Opinions
Please provide your opinions, perspectives, and views for the following questions.
1. What can state coastal zone management programs and the Center do to ensure that there is a good fit
between the fellow’s interests and expertise and the state’s needs?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

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2. What are the strengths of the Coastal Management Fellowship Program?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the weaknesses of the Coastal Management Fellowship Program?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

4. What suggestions do you have for improving the Coastal Management Fellowship Program?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Employment
Please provide information about your future employment goals.
1. What are your future employment plans?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. How would you characterize the employer that you would like to [or plan to] work for? (Indicate only one)
1. U.S. federal government
2. Sate or local government
3. Private/for profit sector
4. Nonprofit organization or foundation
5. College or university
6. Other____________________________________________
7. Not Sure

3. How helpful do you expect your participation in the fellowship program to be to your future employment?
(Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not at all
Helpful

Extremely
Helpful

0
Don’t
Know

4. If you have already secured employment following the fellowship, did participation in the Coastal
Management Fellowship Program affect your ability to get your current position?
___Yes

___No

Please explain:

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Education Information
Please provide the following information about your educational experiences and goals.
1. What is the highest degree you have completed?
1. Master’s
2. Ph.D.
3. Other ____________
2. What was your major in this degree program?

________________________________

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3. Are you planning to pursue further education?
___Yes

___No

4. If yes, please list the degree you will seek and the type of program you will enroll in. (e.g.,
Ph.D. in Marine Science)

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Respondent Information
The following questions will be used to help describe survey participants and all information will be reported
in aggregate form.
1. What is your age? ________
2. What is your gender?
1. Male
2. Female
3. Please indicate your race. (Mark one or more.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White

4. Please indicate your ethnicity. (Mark one.)
1. Hispanic or Latino
2. Not Hispanic or Latino

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 35 minutes per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the
data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this

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burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Tom Fish, NOAA National Ocean
Service, at 843-740-1271.
Respondents are not identified on their questionnaires, and any reports will present data in aggregate form
only. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any
person be subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number.

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