the McMASTER STUDENTS UNION
SERVICES REVEIW
RA
nding Commi tte S ta
e -
-S
THE STUDENT COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK, THE STUDENT HEALTH EDUCATION CENTRE, & THE MAROONS
- Ser ces vi
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
OPENING REMARKS On March 4 to 11, 2015 a feedback survey was conducted by the Services Committee on the Student Community Support Network (SCSN), the Student Health Education Centre (SHEC), and the MSU Maroons. This survey was created in collaboration with the part-time manager (PTM) of each service, Josh Patel, Laura Jamieson, and Kristina Weatherbee, respectively. The review involved a survey open to all undergraduate students, including SCSN, SHEC, and Maroons volunteers and executives. A total of 134 responses were collected. The goal of the survey was to investigate whether these services are meeting their service mandates through the programming, events, and resources they provide. It was also intended to be a measure of service success through levels of student engagement and service usage. The survey asks students to provide feedback on their knowledge of these services and level of satisfaction with what these services are delivering. It also asks students to reflect on areas that these services can improve on.
METHODS This survey was available to all undergraduate students for one week through the MSU website. The questions were made up of multiple choice, multiple selection questions, and more open-ended yes/no questions that involved a comment box. Students were encouraged to elaborate on their answers and provide greater details by way of the comment boxes that accompanied most questions.
SURVEY DEMOGRAPHICS Level of study of participants: 4.48 14.93 First
23.88
Second Third 29.10
Fourth Fifth
27.61
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
Faculty/Program participants are part of: 5.22
5.22
5.22
16.42
Arts & Science Commerce Engineering
12.69
Health Sciences Humanities Kinesiology
34.33
13.43
Nursing Science
5.22
Social Science 2.24
SCSN RESULTS 1. Are you invovled in this service? 1.49 Yes
18.66
No
79.85
No, but I'm interested in volunteering with them
3
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
2. The SCSN is effective at...
14.18 55.22
38.81
Developing and strengthening relationships between McMaster students and various members of the community Providing support to offcampus students including information Providing support to offcampus students including resources Providing support to offcampus students including programming
28.36 52.24
Providing support to offcampus students including community advocacy Other (please specify)
46.27
3. Are you familiar with SCSN’s Off-Campus Community Assistants?
Yes
9.70 26.12
No
64.18
I live on campus, so I don't have Offcampus CAs.
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
4. Have you ever interacted with the Off-Campus Community Assistant in your area? 1.49 Yes
14.18
No
I live on campus, so I don't have Offcampus CAs.
84.33
5. What do the Off-Campus Community Assistants provide you?
Help students maintain a positive image in the community
14.18
Support off-campus students by promoting Hamilton bylaws
11.94
40.30
11.19 8.96 38.81
Resources for off-campus students with housing complaints Organize off-campus programming to promote student engagement in Hamilton I live on campus, so I do not receive anything from OffCampus Community Assistants. My Off-Campus Community Assistants provide me none of the above.
5
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
6. Did you take part in Discover Your City Week?
27.61
Yes
No
72.39
7. How did you hear about Discover Your City Week? Facebook Twitter
33.58 57.46
MSU Website
22.39 Posters
26.87
37.31
From a friend MUSC Table
36.57
32.84
I did not hear about Discover Your City Week
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
8. What events did you attend for Discover Your city Week? James Street North Artcrawl
9.70 19.40
Pier 8 Skating
A Night Out on Locke St.
7.46
9.70
Motown at Absinthe
9. If you would like to provide any other feedback on SCSN, please provide it here. • I have not heard of SCSN before, perhaps that alone is feedback in the sense that they could use more exposure. And by the survey, I feel like I would be interested in what they offer (exploring Hamilton, workshops, etc.) • I’d recommend reaching out to those who have not heard the network.
RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations from the committee are as follows for the SCSN: 1. Increased promotion of Discover Your City Week. Multiple students expressed a keen interest in the events that were offered as a part of Discover Your City Week. They suggested utilizing creative promotions outside of social media to let students know about this programming. 2. Providing “Leavin’ the Nest” Workshop through different avenues. Due to low turnout at the SCSN workshop on finding off-campus housing, the PTM and service volunteers have re-visioned this initiative in the form of infographics. We suggest partnering with the Off-Campus Resource Centre, SOCS, and Faculty Societies to help these resources reach as many students as possible. Also, Offcampus Community Assistants (CAs) can connect with students on the ground to share this information, perhaps by tabling or holding a community open house.
7
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
3. Close the gap between students and awareness of municipal advocacy. Students expressed an interest in getting involved with the municipal advocacy that SCSN participates in with the City of Hamilton. The committee suggests exploring creative ways to get students actively engaging in municipal advocacy, perhaps through regular updates on municipal politics by using a section of the SCSN webpage to provide information on the current state of municipal advocacy being done or by having regular focus groups. 4. Explore the role of Off-Campus Community Assistants. Within the current structure of these roles the Off-campus Community Assistants (CAs) do not interact with students frequently. Students are also quite unaware of CAs. It would be valuable to provide students with more information on CAs and what these CAs can provide them (ex. knowledge of the Hamilton bylaws). Explore how CAs can be more accessible to students and utilized most productively.
CONCLUSION This survey clearly demonstrated that students recognize the importance of the work of SCSN but also feel somewhat disconnected from it, particularly with respect to municipal advocacy. The SCSN does spend a fair amount of time on ensuring that students are following City of Hamilton by-laws through the work of its Off-campus Community Assistants (CAs). Given that many students expressed that they were aware of CAs but had not interacted with them personally, this is a good measure of the work that these CAs are doing. Technically, CAs should not be interacting with students living off-campus if they are abiding by bylaws and rules set forth by the City of Hamilton. SCSN PTM Josh Patel also reported to Executive Board that there had been very few instances in the last few months of CAs needing to approach students about infractions or complaints. This is an indication that McMaster students are positive community members. Due to the unique mandate of SCSN this survey cannot be used as the only measure of its success this year. Despite this, it is helpful in gauging student understanding of the service and also gave students an opportunity to share ways in which they would like to see the service grow. This insight will certainly be useful to the incoming part-time manager as they determine where to take the service in the upcoming year.
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
SHEC RESULTS 1. Are you involved with this service?
Yes 11.94 30.60
No
57.46
No, but I'm interested in volunteering with them
2. SHEC tries to actively educate the student population about issues regarding: 2.99 Sexual health 89.55
94.78
Nutrition and active living Sub abuse and add
73.13
74.63
Mental health and well Other
9
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
3. Which of the following services has SHEC provided you with? 0.75
2.24 Preg testing 22.39
Contraceptives/lube
41.04
Peer support 24.63
0.75
Service referrals Library resources Fem hygience prod
15.67
43.28
Educational events Other
15.67 16.42
None of the above Not answered
4. Do you know where SHEC is located? 4.48 Yes
6.72
No
88.81
I did not know they had an office.
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
5. How often have you visited the SHEC office?
5.22
Weekly or bi-weekly
12.69 5.97
Once or twice each month
39.55
16.42 Once or twice a year 20.15
6. Do you feel the SHEC office is inviting?
2.99 4.48
Yes, the SHEC office is very inviting
5.97
Yes, the SHEC office is somewhat inviting
43.28 24.63
I am not sure whether or not the SHEC office is inviting. No, the SHEC office is somewhat uninviting No, the SHEC office is very uninviting
18.66
I did not know there is a SHEC office.
11
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
7. Do you feel comfortable seeking peer support in the SHEC Office?
4.48
Yes, I am very comfortable with seeking peer support.
7.46
11.19
Yes, I am somewhat comfortable with seeking peer support
35.07
I am not sure if I am comfortable with seeking peer support I am somewhat uncomfortable with seeking peer support
22.39
I am very uncomfortable with seeking peer support
19.40
I did not know that SHEC provides peer support.
8. Do you feel that SHEC provides a unique service on campus? Please indicate why/why not.
17.91
Yes
9.70
No
72.39 Maybe
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
9. Please indicate all the SHEC events you have attended since September 2014.
5.97
3.73
SHEC Talks Mental Health Support
Bar Blitz at 1280
16.42
8.96
Sex101 (In residence)
29.85 7.46
Addictions Awareness Fair “Above the Influence” in MUSC Atrium Therapy Dog Visits during Stressbusters
Yoga at 1280 during Stressbusters
17.91
13.43
Cootes Hike during Stressbusters
New Year Resolution Fair “Change Starts Today” in MUSC Atrium
14.93
27.61
1280 Sexy Bingo Night
Sex 202 (SHEC Week)
SHEC Talks Mental Health Support (SHEC Week)
6.72 2.99
32.84
Addictive Relationships workshop (SHEC Week)
Winter Cootes Adventure (SHEC Week)
10. If you attended events during SHEC week, did you find that they were: Informative 42.54
43.28 Fun Accessible
39.55
39.55
Well-organized Relevant
31.34
34.33
I didn't attend
13
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
11. Please list any areas of health that you feel could be better addressed on campus. • • • •
Nutrition & Active living LGBTQ+ sexual health Pregnancy support Positive body image
12. If you have any other feedback on the Student Health Education Network, please provide it here. • The Student Health Education Centre is a really wonderful and valuable resource and my hope is that its awareness on campus becomes more well-known so students have the ability to access all that it provides and utilize the trained volunteers’ experience. • Its such an important service, especially considering the wiat times at SWC and the fact that we deal with issues in a way that accepting,non-judgemental and relatable. I think it’s impact can be imporved by promoting parnership with other MSU services as well as the student wellness center. • I think the volunteers are all very enthusiastic and passionate about providing health education services on campus. As well, I think SHEC offers a good balance between privacy for students seeking aid and promoting events in a more outgoing manner. • SHEC should advertise its lesser known services more, such as peer support and free feminine hygiene products! It will help SHEC deviate from its “sexual health only” reputation.
RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations from the committee are as follows for the Student Health Education Centre: 1. Offering online resources. Students were enthusiastic about the resources that SHEC has in the office but mentioned that they are sometimes not confident enough to access them in person. Consider exploring how to offer these high quality resources online. 2. Strengthen service identity. This year SHEC did a great job of offering programming and resources to draw attention to all four of its focus areas. Advertising their lesser known services, such as peer support and feminine hygiene products, would help them continue to deviate from the notion that they are a service focused only on sexual health.
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
3. Emphasize partnership with other MSU Services and Student Wellness Centre (SWC). SHEC does involve other MSU Services and the SWC in creating its programming and workshops. Students suggested that making this relationship more obvious and clearer would lend to the confidence students have in utilizing SHEC and also encourage more students to participate in its programming. 4. Usage of SHEC office The majority of students that completed the survey only visit the office once or twice throughout their time at McMaster or not at all. Feedback indicated that although v volunteers are welcoming, students do not feel the need to visit the office frequently. Consider exploring ways that this space could be used more effectively.
CONCLUSION This year, SHEC made a considerable effort to solidify its identity as a service, better meet student needs, and decrease redundancies between itself and other services and groups on campus. SHEC PTM Laura Jamieson and her service volunteers aimed to focus equally on all four of the service’s pillars (mental health, sexual health, nutrition and active living, and addictions awareness). By way of diverse programming throughout the year, the four pillars were each given an opportunity to engage students through events such as the Addictions Awareness Fair, the New Year’s Resolutions Fair, and SHEC Week. Based on the results of this survey, it is fair to say that students are glad to have a service like SHEC on campus and see it is as an important resource. An overwhelming number of comments were positive and many students shared that SHEC is a friendly and welcoming service. Many students indicated that they actively engage with SHEC by utilizing their services and participating in programming on a regular basis. Students also highlighted various areas of health that they would like to see SHEC focus on in the future and these suggestions will be useful to the incoming part-time manager as they determine their vision for the upcoming year. These will certainly lend to SHEC’s ability to respond to emerging student needs on an ongoing basis in order to remain a relevant and useful service.
15
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
MAROONS 1. Are you involved with this service?
17.16
14.18
Yes
No
68.66
No, but I'm interested in volunteering with them
2. The Maroons effectively:
11.19
2.99
0.75
Promote school spirit amongst McMaster undergraduate students Promote school pride amongst McMaster undergraduate students
47.01
83.58
Facilitates leadership opportunities for undergraduate students Represent the McMaster Students Union at events on campus Represent the McMaster Students Union at events in the community
66.42 69.40
They do not do any of the above effectively Other
42.54
Did not answer
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
3. Do you feel like the MSU Maroons represent you?
Yes 29.10 44.03 No
Maybe
26.87
4. Do you think the MSU Maroons are inclusive?
Yes 34.33
35.07 No
Maybe 30.60
17
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
5. What do the MSU Maroons provide you with? 16.42
School spirit McMaster pride
38.06
75.37
Leadership opportunities Inclusive and social community
50.75 60.45
Assisting with first year integration Connecting students with other services
30.60 28.36
None of the above
6. Have the MSU Maroons connected you to other services on campus? If so, please indicate which ones. 5.22
Mac Bread Bin
16.42
SCSN
11.19
First Year Council Diversity Services
16.42
64.18
9.70
Teaching Awards Committee Advocacy Other
17.16 None of the above
17.16 2.24
Not answered
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
7. Have you read the MSU Maroons newsletter?
Yes 27.61 45.52
No
I have never heard of it
26.87
8. Do you find the MSU Maroons newsletter useful?
Yes
21.64
11.19
No
67.16 I have never read it
9. Have you ever visited the Maroons office? Yes 23.88 37.31 No
38.81
I didn't know they had one
19
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
10. What is most important to you when attending a Maroons event?
That they are assisting another service to provide opportunities to students
39.55
46.27
Meeting helpful leaders who are excited to answer any questions I may have
41.04
Expanding your own interactions as well as the interactions of the Maroons
38.81 I do not attend events held by the Maroons
11. What is the most common way you have found out about a Maroons event? 0.28 A Maroon approached me personally
28.36
20.90 The Maroons social media postings (facebook, twitter) The MSU Website
26.87 55.97
From another student
I did not know Maroons held events
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
12. If you have any other feedback on the Maroons, please provide it here. • More events! Try and improve your ALL-year round presence. During welcome week it’s easy to approach them, but afterwards it becomes very difficult to try and integrate yourself into their society. • I think lots of work needs to be done to make sure the Maroons are much more of a support instead of an intimidating team. • I understand the Maroons do a lot of excellent work, I just feel that they could be performing it differently. • Better marketing of their events as I am in my fifth year and fairly active on campus but had no idea that they held events outside of Welcome Week • I don’t know much about them, so considering advertising to first year students that commute to campus.
RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations from the committee are as follows for the MSU Maroons: 1. Continue to support and collaborate with other services. Utilize your group’s visibility on campus to partner with services to help promote their programming, events, and initiatives. Respondents indicated that the Maroons helped them get in touch with new services that they have grown fond of, such as Mac Bread Bin and Diversity Services. 2. Work towards greater transparency of the hiring process. Efforts are made each year to ensure that the hiring process is fair and transparent. Feedback indicated that students are still not confident in this process. Consider working towards dispelling misconceptions about hiring, which may lead to a more varied group of applicants. 3. Develop creative first year outreach events. Respondents indicated that the Maroons formal was an event that many of them found intimidating. Collaborating with First Year Council to develop programming specifically geared towards first years is great, and more efforts should be made to hold programming that is welcoming to a variety of first year students.
CONCLUSION Each year, the MSU Maroons make contributions during Welcome Week that are helpful in first year transition. Although the service does offer programming during the year, students expressed a lack of awareness with respect to what the Maroons offer for students that
21
SERVICES INTERNAL REVIEW: SUMMARY OF RESULTS
are not a Maroons representative. Clearer advertising and promotions of intramurals, social events, and the Maroons formal as opportunities that all students can take advantage of may result in a more diverse group of students participating in these events. Students expressed that although having an enthusiastic and outgoing group of volunteers is great, it is also just as important to offer programming that appeals to a variety of students. Making a conscious effort to tailor programming to diverse groups of students would also help the Maroons meet the needs of students better. The feedback also clearly demonstrated that many students find the Maroons to be intimidating and unwelcoming. Consistent efforts should be made by the service part-time manager, executives, and representatives to actively engage with students on an ongoing basis. Many of the events around campus that Maroons participate in, such as attending various sports events, are opportunities to engage with students and work towards representing McMaster students well. The committee recommends that the volunteers of this service make a keen effort to consistently connect with students whenever they are fulfilling their role as a representative. Given that these volunteers are often quite visible they are able to help set a positive tone for all students taking part in their initiatives and events throughout campus, and this ability should be utilized to its fullest.
CLOSING REMARKS As demonstrated by the results of this survey, including the comments that students took the time to share, it is clear that this feedback will be useful in determining how to continue to improve and grow SCSN, SHEC, and the MSU Maroons over the course of the next year. These results are intended to compliment other measures of their success such as engagement through social media, event attendance, volunteer retention, student outreach, and resource usage. It is the committee’s hope that these results highlight areas in which these services can continue to grow in order to better respond to the diverse needs of students of the McMaster community.
McMASTER STUDENTS UNION | McMaster University 1280 Main Street West MUSC 201 Hamilton ON L8S 4S4 P: 905-525-9140 ext. 22003 | F: 905-529-3208 | www.msumcmaster.ca
23
the McMASTER STUDENTS UNION
RA
St a
nding Commi
tt e
e -
-S
SERVICES COMMITTEE - Ser ces vi