UMM In the Machias UMM In the Machias Business CommunityBusiness Community

Needs Assessment and EvaluationNeeds Assessment and Evaluation

Janine Gramlich and Michelle BuckleyJanine Gramlich and Michelle Buckley

Presentation of ProblemPresentation of Problem

HistoryHistory

Importance of Importance of Current Research.Current Research.

Prior ResearchPrior Research

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

RQ1: What impact does UMM have on RQ1: What impact does UMM have on the Machias community? the Machias community?

RQ2:How well does UMM utilize its RQ2:How well does UMM utilize its resources to benefit Machias resources to benefit Machias businesses?businesses?

RQ3:In what ways could UMM positively RQ3:In what ways could UMM positively impact the Machias business impact the Machias business community?community?

Presentation of ProblemPresentation of Problem

Social TheorySocial Theory FunctionalismFunctionalism

Functionalism in the Functionalism in the Machias CommunityMachias Community

Functionalism in UMM Functionalism in UMM CommunityCommunity

Provided by Lisa Athearn

Units Of AnalysisUnits Of AnalysisData was Collected from:Data was Collected from:

Machias Area Machias Area BusinessesBusinesses

Participants of the Participants of the UMM Career FairUMM Career Fair

www.umm.maine.edu

http://www.badlittlefallsinn.com/machias-maine-local-activities.html

Research DesignResearch Design

Methodology:Methodology: 2 studies2 studies Survey of Job Fair ParticipantsSurvey of Job Fair Participants

22 Participants22 Participants

In-depth Interviews with businessesIn-depth Interviews with businesses 7 Participants7 Participants

ResultsResults

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Conferences Performing Arts Guest Speakers Special Events

Graph E. How would you rate the quality of each UMM activity?

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Not Sure/Don’t Know

ResultsResultsGraph D. How would you rate (from 1-5) the

degree of UMM's interaction with your

business/organization?

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1 (Low) 2 3 4 5 (High)

ResultsResults

0

2

4

6

8

10

Daily Weekly Monthly Yearly Never

Graph C. How often do you hear about UMM events that

impact your business?

Improving Improving CommunicationCommunication

Suggestions:Suggestions: Use local TV ChannelsUse local TV Channels Flyers around townFlyers around town Regular newsletter aimed towards local Regular newsletter aimed towards local

businessesbusinesses

Results/SuggestionsResults/Suggestions

Additional Suggestions by Participants:Additional Suggestions by Participants: More InternshipsMore Internships Weekend eventsWeekend events Small Business SeminarsSmall Business Seminars Nursing/Healthcare Occupation DegreesNursing/Healthcare Occupation Degrees Master’s Degree OptionsMaster’s Degree Options

ConclusionConclusion

RQ1: What impact does UMM have on RQ1: What impact does UMM have on the Machias community?the Machias community?

UMM’s impact not as strong as believed UMM’s impact not as strong as believed Many thought UMM had no impact on Many thought UMM had no impact on

their businesstheir business

ConclusionConclusion

RQ2:How well does UMM utilize its RQ2:How well does UMM utilize its resources to benefit Machias resources to benefit Machias businesses?businesses?

Few businesses used campus facilitiesFew businesses used campus facilities Few attended campus events, speakers Few attended campus events, speakers

and other activitiesand other activities

ConclusionsConclusions

RQ3:In what ways could UMM positively RQ3:In what ways could UMM positively impact the Machias business impact the Machias business community?community?

Businesses need to have regular contact Businesses need to have regular contact with UMMwith UMM

More communication, beneficial events More communication, beneficial events and programsand programs

LimitationsLimitations

TimeTime

Community ResponseCommunity Response

Limited GeneralizationLimited Generalization

Future ResearchFuture Research

UMM’s full economic impact?UMM’s full economic impact? More on how UMM’s presence impacts More on how UMM’s presence impacts

the communitythe community Investigation into nursing and healthcare Investigation into nursing and healthcare

program implementationprogram implementation

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Thank you to the following for your help Thank you to the following for your help and support!and support! Lisa AthearnLisa Athearn Brenda FreyBrenda Frey IT OfficeIT Office Spring 2008 Research Methods ClassSpring 2008 Research Methods Class And especially all the participants in our And especially all the participants in our

surveys and interviews!surveys and interviews!