Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program (LSAMP) Evaluation - Student

CUI//PRVCY

Appendix 2: Student Focus Group Protocol

Section A: Opening Discussion 

1. What is your name, your program of study, and your year in school? 

2. Today we’re talking about your participation in the LSAMP alliance [formal name]. [Do you know of it by this name? If not: You may know it is a BD/B2B/ or by some other name. What do you call it?]

3. We'd like to start by asking you about how you came to be a part of LSAMP. What was that process like for you? How did you learn about it? 

4. How has your LSAMP program communicated with you about different activities, events, or provided you with information? 

5. What types of LSAMP activities or resources have you participated in? 

6. Can you describe the LSAMP program at [institution]?

7. How connected do you feel to the LSAMP community? 

 

Section B: Successes 

1. What have you found to be most supportive from the perspective of staff or support from an individual? 

2. For your journey with LSAMP, can you pinpoint events that encouraged you to keep going? What were they? How did they help you? 

3. Which activities have you participated in that were particularly helpful? 

4. In what ways would you say LSAMP has supported you in your time at [institution]? Probe for specific examples. 

5. How do you use the financial support you receive through LSAMP? How did you decide how to use your financial support? 

6. (Level 1) What was the process like for you to obtain your stipend? Can you describe it? 

7. (Level 2) Of the LSAMP-related activities you’ve attended or participated in, what have you found to be the most helpful and why?

8. (Level 2) Why did you decide to attend these LSAMP-related activities? What were you hoping to learn or gain?

 

Section C: Gaps/Opportunities 

1. When you think about your LSAMP program, what is not working or what is missing?

2. What activities do you wish were being offered? 

3. (Level 1) Is there anything (e.g., supports, guidance, activities) you feel is missing from the opportunities available to you or should be added? ? 

4. (Level 2) Is there anything (e.g., supports, guidance, activities) you feel is missing from the LSAMP-related activities that are available to you? What would change for you if these supports, guidance, activities, etc. were offered?  (Probe for why they are participating as a Level 2 vs. Level 1 participant.)

5. How is the LSAMP program different than what you imagined it would be? 

  

Section D: Level 3 Students Only 

1. What, if anything, did you know about LSAMP before participating?

2. What additional supports would have helped increase or enhance your participation? 

3. Are there reasons why you have not participated or engaged in (available activities or supports) offered by LSAMP? 

 

Section E: Future Outlook 

1. Where do you see yourself in the future? What would you like to be doing in the next one to ten years? 

2. (Level 1 and Level 2 students) What support from LSAMP would help you attain the goals you just mentioned? 

3. Do you plan to continue your education? For example, by attending graduate school (in any field)? 

4. (Level 1 and Level 2 students) What advice would you give your advisors and LSAMP staff to improve the program? 

5. What do you think needs to occur to increase participation from students who are not participating in the LSAMP program at your institution?

 

Section F: Step 3:  Wrap-Up 

1. Is there anything that we didn’t ask about that you would like your LSAMP leaders to know about? 

 

 

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