Survey of current mentors

OMB Control No.: 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx
Survey of Current State Coastal Zone Management Program Mentors
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 state coastal zone management program mentors 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 40 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.

Your Experiences
Please answer the following questions about your experiences with the fellowship program.
1. Which state coastal zone management program are you affiliated with?

___________________

2. How many fellows have you, personally, mentored?

___________________

3. In total, how many fellows has your state coastal zone management program had?
___________________
4. Do you read Fellow News?

__Yes __N o

If you read Fellows News, what do you find is the most appealing aspect?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. 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 to have?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Your State Coastal Zone Management Program’s Projects
Please answer questions about your fellow and his or her main project. If you have mentored more than
one fellow, please provide that information under the section “Past Fellow and Project.”

Current Fellow and Project
What year did your fellow arrive? (Check one)
1.

__2005

__2006

What is your current fellow’s project topic?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2.

Would you have been able to undertake and/or complete this project without this fellow?
__Yes __N o
Please explain:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

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3.

What is the contribution (e.g., $$$, human resources, equipment, travel, training, etc.) from your
state coastal zone management program toward this project?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4.

What skills are needed for your fellow to successfully conduct this project?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

5.

Does your fellow have adequate skills to successfully conduct this project?
__Yes __N o
If no, what skills are underdeveloped or missing and how do you plan to rectify this situation?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

6.

Is it possible that this project could be used as a model by other states?
__Yes __N o __Don’t Know
Please explain:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

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7.

Do you expect this project to be integrated into, or utilized by, your state’s coastal zone
management program?
__Yes __N o
Please explain why or why not, and if yes, how and when do you anticipate it being integrated or
utilized (immediately after completion, 6 months later, one year later, etc.)?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

8.

To date, please indicate your overall satisfaction level associated with your fellow’s performance.
(Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

9.

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

How satisfied are you with the mentorship you provide your fellow? (Circle the number that best
reflects your answer.)

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Very
Dissatisfied
10.

0
Don’t
Know

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

What additional resources would be helpful to prepare for, maintain or improve the mentorship of
your fellow (e.g., mentor training, support network, etc.)?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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If you mentored a previous fellow, please complete the following, if not, please skip this section:
Past Fellow and Project

What year did your fellow arrive: _________________________
1. What was your past fellow’s project topic?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. Would you have been able to undertake and/or complete this project without this fellow?
__Yes __N o
Please explain:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. What was the contribution (e.g., $$$, human resources, equipment, travel, training, etc.) from your
state coastal zone management program toward this project?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. What skills were needed for your fellow to successfully conduct this project?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. Did your fellow have adequate skills to successfully conduct this project?
__Yes __N o
If no, what skills were underdeveloped or missing?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. Has your project become a model that has been used by other states?
__Yes __N o __Don‘t Know
Please explain including how, by whom, and when it’s been used:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
7. Was this project integrated into or utilized by your state coastal zone management program?
__Yes __N o
Please explain why or why not and if yes, how and when was this project integrated or utilized
(immediately after completion, 6 months later, or one year later, etc.)?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
8. Overall, how satisfied were you with your fellow’s performance? (Circle the number that best
reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

9. How satisfied were you with the mentorship you provided your fellow? (Circle the number that best
reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Fellowship Program Resources
In answering the following questions, consider all your former fellows and their projects collectively.
1. How satisfied are you with the resources (hardware, software, office space, etc.) that your state
coastal zone management program has been able to provide to fellows? (Circle the number that best
reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

2. What types of training or support (for both you and fellows) could improve your state coastal zone
management program’s overall experience with the fellowship program?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. How effective is the fellowship in improving, enhancing or augmenting coastal resource management
and policy for the state? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not At All
Effective

0

Extremely
Effective

Don’t
Know

Please comment:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. In the future, how likely is it that your state would be able to contribute additional non-federal
matching funds towards fellows’ salaries and benefits (up from the current $7500 per year)? (Circle
the number that best reflects your answer.)

1-------------------2-------------------3-------------------4--------------------5
Not At All
Likely

Extremely
Likely

0
Don’t
Know

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Please comment:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. If only three states were selected each year to host a fellow, would your state still apply?
__Yes __N o
6. To what extent are you satisfied with your state’s ability to address a high priority issue through the
fellowship program? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

7. To what extent has the fellowship program met your state coastal zone management program’s
needs? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

A lot

0
Don’t
Know

Selection of Fellows and Operation of the Program
In answering the following questions, consider your current fellow and project.
1. Was the matching workshop an effective mechanism to select an individual with skills and
experiences necessary to complete your state’s project? Why or why not?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. What can be done to ensure that there is a good fit between a fellow’s interests/expertise and the
state’s needs?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. In your opinion, is the amount and quality of communication between you and the Center adequate?
__Yes __N o
If no, please describe how communication can and should be improved.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. What factors are contributing most to the successful completion of your state coastal zone
management program’s fellowship project?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. If you had to do it all again, would you choose to participate in the Coastal Management Fellowship
Program? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Uncertain/
Don’t Know

Yes,
definitely

6. Overall, how satisfied are you with the anticipated product or outcome of your fellow’s project?
(Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

__________________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluation designed by GEARS Inc.
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Fellow Training and Education
In answering the following questions, consider your current fellow and project.
1. In your opinion, how useful is the formal and on-the-job training provided to fellows during their
fellowship period? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Extremely
Useful

0
Don’t
Know

2. How satisfied are you with the amount of contact you have had with your fellow during the
fellowship program? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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 professional contacts your fellow made/developed during the
fellowship? (Circle the number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Somewhat
Dissatisfied

Neither Satisfied
Nor Dissatisfied

Somewhat
Satisfied

Very
Satisfied

0
Don’t
Know

4. Was the ability of your state coastal zone management program to learn from other state coastal zone
management programs enhanced by your fellow’s interactions with other fellows?
__Yes __N o
Please explain:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. Overall, how effective is the Coastal Management Fellowship Program in providing training to post
graduate students in coastal resource management and policy? (Circle the number that best reflects
your answer.)

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

Extremely
Effective

0
Don’t
Know

__________________________________________________________________________________________
Evaluation designed by GEARS Inc.
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Fellowship Program: General Comments
Please provide your opinions, perspectives, and views for the following questions.
1. What are the strengths of the Coastal Management Fellowship Program for the states? For the fellows?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the weaknesses of the Coastal Management Fellowship Program?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Overall, how do you rate the quality of the Coastal Management Fellowship Program? (Circle the
number that best reflects your answer.)

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

Excellent

0
Don’t Know

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

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__________________________________________________________________________________________
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