0704-STEM_Survey_Full Instrument_7.7.2023

WEP Participant Questionnaire

Start of Block: Default Question Block

We are seeking feedback from people who participated in one or more STEM-oriented work experience programs (e.g., internships, apprenticeships, fellowships) that are affiliated with the Department of Defense (DoD) within the past 12 months.  By STEM, we mean any field that involves some type of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.  Examples: biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, social science, physics, and more.


The goal is to gain a better understanding of the wide range of backgrounds and experiences that participants brought to these programs, what participants gained, and how programs may be improved for future cohorts.


If you are open to helping us meet this goal, please complete the following questionnaire.  It is best viewed in a browser, though may also be taken on a mobile device.  We anticipate the questionnaire will take approximately 10-20 minutes.  Please note that all questions are optional, so you may skip any question you do not wish to answer.  Lastly, per recommendation from the Office of Management and Budget and so that we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally identifiable information such as people’s name, birthdate, address or any information that could identify you or others in any of your written answers.

Thank you, in advance, for your time!

End of Block: Default Question Block

Start of Block: Professional and Ed Background

The first set of questions helps us get a better sense of where you are in your educational and professional development.

Where are you in your education?  If you are done with school, please select "N/A" for Currently Pursuing and Highest Planned.  If you are not currently in school, but might return in the future, please select "N/A" for Currently Pursuing and then the appropriate degree type for Highest Planned.

	High School/GED	Associate's	Bachelor's	Master's	Doctorate	N/A
Last completed
Currently pursuing
Highest planned

Is your current (or most recently attended) school public or private?

• Public

• Private

• I don't know

What types of programs does your current (or most recently attended) school offer?  Select all that apply.

• Shorter than 2-year programs

• 2-year programs

• 4-year programs

• Master's programs

• Doctoral programs

Is your current (or most recently attended) school a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), or any other special-mission institution that serves historically-underrepresented communities in higher education?

• Yes

• No

What is (or was) your academic major or concentration?  Select all that apply.

• Computer and information sciences

• Engineering and engineering technology

• Biological, physical science, and science technology

• Mathematics

• Agriculture and natural resources

• General studies

• Social sciences

• Psychology

• Humanities

• History

• Personal and consumer services

• Manufacturing, construction, repair, and transportation

• Military technology and protective services

• Health care fields

• Business

• Education

• Architecture

• Communications

• Public administration and human services

• Design and applied arts

• Law and legal studies

• Library sciences

• Theology and religious vocations

• Other (please specify) __________________________________________________

Do any of your future education plans focus on STEM (i.e., any field involving science, technology, engineering, or mathematics)?

• Yes

• No

• No future education plans

What is the highest level of completed education among any of your parents or primary guardians?

• Middle school

• High school / GED

• Some college

• Vocational certification or license

• Associate's Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's Degree

• Doctorate

What is the name or title of the job you would want for your career (e.g., astrophysicist, cryptographer, mechanical engineer)?  In other words, what is your "goal job"?  If you do not know, please put, "Unsure."  So we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally-identifying information, such as people’s names, birthdates, addresses, or any information that could identify you or others.

________________________________________________________________

If you received multiple job offers from companies where you could work in your "goal job," how important would each of the following factors be in deciding which company to join?

Not at all important

Very important

Salary
Benefits
Job security
Job location
Opportunities for advancement
Intellectual challenge
Level of responsibility
Degree of independence
Contribution to society
Ability to use STEM skills
Flexible work arrangements (e.g., telework)

Many jobs in the U.S. government (including in the Department of Defense) may also be found outside of the government in the commercial sector (e.g., academia, private industry, contracting, non-profits, etc.)  Thinking about your possible "goal job," which sector is stronger or more competitive in each of the following factors?

Commercial

They are equal

U.S. Gov

I don't know

Salary
Benefits
Job security
Job location
Opportunities for advancement
Intellectual challenge
Level of responsibility
Degree of independence
Contribution to society
Ability to use STEM skills
Flexible work arrangements (e.g., telework)

End of Block: Professional and Ed Background

Start of Block: Program Feedback

The following questions are about your most recent experience in a STEM-oriented work experience program affiliated with the DoD.  To keep things simple, we will refer to this as the "program."  If you are still in the program, please answer based on your time so far.

What is the name of the most recent program that you attended?

________________________________________________________________

How or where did you hear about the program before applying?  Select all that apply.

• Someone I know

• An event (e.g., job fair, science expo)

• Traditional ad (e.g., radio announcement, print ad, mailer)

• Thought piece on the program (e.g., news article, blog post, publication, podcast)

• Email announcement

• Pay-per-click ad (in a browser or app)

• Job post (e.g., school job bulletin, Indeed, Monster, USA Jobs)

• Social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook)

Where was the program's onsite location relative to where you were living when you applied?

• Same city or in a nearby city that you can easily commute from

• Further away

How did you participate?

• Onsite

• Remotely

• Hybrid (some onsite, some remote)

How long was the program?  Or, if it is ongoing, how long have you been in the program so far?

• One month or less

• More than one month but less than 4 months

• 4 months to a year

• A year or more

How many formal and/or informal mentors did you work with during the program?  If none, please write "0."

________________________________________________________________

Thinking about the mentor you worked most closely with (formally or informally), about how often did you meet either virtually or in person?

• Every day

• 2-4 times a week

• Once a week

• 1-3 times a month

• Less than once a month

• Did not have a mentor

How, if at all, did your experience in the program impact any of the following?  Please drag the slider to the place on the scale that best describes your answer.

Big Decrease

No change

Big Increase

Interest in taking STEM classes or pursuing a STEM major in school.
Interest in getting a STEM job one day.
Understanding of how to succeed in STEM classes or as a STEM major in school.
Understanding of how to get a STEM job one day.
Ability to use your STEM skills.
Ability to collaborate with people from academic majors that are different from your own.
Ability to work in a professional environment (e.g., communication, time management).

When deciding whether to apply for the program, how much did any of the following concern you?  Please drag the slider to the place on the scale that best describes your answer.

Not at all a concern

Very big concern

Knowing whether the program would benefit your long-term goals
Being accepted into the program
Being able to afford associated costs (e.g., travel, rent, professional clothes, equipment)
Distance between the program and your home
Having good enough STEM skills in the right topic areas
Getting along well with others in the program
Other (please specify)

Did the program offer any benefits or accommodations (e.g., housing support, stipend, hybrid learning environment, guaranteed job placement) that were important for you to be able to participate?  If so, can you please list up to 5?  If there were none, please write "No."  So we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally-identifying information, such as people’s names, birthdates, addresses, or any information that could identify you or others.

• 1 __________________________________________________

• 2 __________________________________________________

• 3 __________________________________________________

• 4 __________________________________________________

• 5 __________________________________________________

Overall, what was the most helpful or meaningful thing that you gained from being in the program?  This could be something specific (e.g., a new job, contact information for a potential future employer), abstract (e.g., knowledge, confidence, perspective) and/or anything in between.  So we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally-identifying information, such as people’s names, birthdates, addresses, or any information that could identify you or others.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Overall, what was the least helpful or meaningful aspect of the program for you?  So we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally-identifying information, such as people’s names, birthdates, addresses, or any information that could identify you or others.

________________________________________________________________ ___________________

________________________________________________________________

Do you have any ideas on how to improve the program going forward?  If so, what?  So we may keep this survey anonymous, please do not include personally-identifying information, such as people’s names, birthdates, addresses, or any information that could identify you or others.

________________________________________________________________

After the program, what did you do?  Select all that apply.

• School

• Work

• Seek Work

• Another work experience program (U.S. Government)

• Another work experience program (civilian)

• Other (please specify) __________________________________________________

Approximately how many STEM professionals do you currently know that you would feel comfortable contacting for help learning about STEM-oriented degrees or jobs, including how to get them?  Of these, how many are new contacts that you made through the program?

• # of STEM professionals you know __________________________________________________

• # of new contacts made through the program __________________________________________________

Currently, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?  Please drag the slider to the place on the scale that best represents your answer.

Strongly Disagree

Neutral

Strongly Agree

I connect with people in STEM on a personal level.
I connect with people in STEM on a professional level.
Thinking about my future, STEM is the right fit for me.

End of Block: Program Feedback

Start of Block: Demographics

Lastly, we have a few demographic questions to help us get a better sense of the wide range of people who have participated in DoD work experience programs.

In which state were you living when you applied for the program?

▼ Alabama ... I do not reside in the United States

How would you characterize the place where you were living when you applied for the program?

• Rural

• Suburban

• Urban

How, if at all, would you like to identify your ethnicity?

• Hispanic

• Non-Hispanic

• Prefer not to answer

How, if at all, would you like to identify your race?  Select all that apply.

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Black or African American

• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

• White

• Prefer not to answer

What is your gender?

• Male

• Female

• Prefer not to answer

Do any of the following apply to you?  Select all that apply.

• English is not your native language

• Have a disability (e.g., hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility)

• First person in your family to go to college

• Qualified for free/reduced lunch in high school

• Qualified for federal aid in college (e.g., Pell Grant)

• Served in the U.S. military

• Have a parent/guardian, sibling, or child who served in the U.S. military

• Have a parent/guardian, sibling, or child who worked for the DoD as a civilian or contractor

In what year were you born?

________________________________________________________________

End of Block: Demographics

Page 16 of 16