Photovoice Pilot Barriers to Student Success Summer 2018

Photovoice Pilot • Barriers to Student Success • Summer 2018 During July and early August 2018, the Columbia College Institutional Research Office piloted a new form of qualitative surveying. The modality was originated in 2012 to collect responses from community members that had been marginalized. By taking photos of social justice subject matter related from their person viewpoints, information was collected that clearly indicated what was important to the respondents and in some cases, needed to change. Since that time, several educational institutions have adopted this method to collect important feedback from students regarding their educational experiences. For this pilot, Columbia College staff and administrators were asked to submit their photos over two weeks whereby they would submit subject matter they felt could convey images related to a general topic, in this case, “Barriers to Student Success. ” There were no specific definitions of “barriers” though the participants were given instructions as to the process such as how to submit the photos, the content to be submitted along with the photo, the informed consent procedures, and the process to follow should their photos include a recognizable face or faces.

Findings from this Photovoice Pilot • This format could work well for focused surveys for select or small student groups, however may be untenable if processing large numbers of submissions. • The method for submitting photo subject matter online worked very well. Texts were sent to each participant containing a link to the online survey that made it convenient to take the photo and submit via their cell phones. This was actually preferred over submitting by email or the QR code. • Submitters stated they enjoyed the project (over taking a written survey for example) and most provided more than one submission. • An alternate method needs to be found to collect informed consent from persons included in the photographs. The paper-and-pencil process was far too cumbersome when managed outside the electronic submission process. This resulted in “avoidance” for taking photos that included faces or people. • A recommendation was made to “gamify” the process – in other words, provide some kind of instantaneous feedback, or points with incentives for participating.

Campus Signage

First impression upon arrival at the college particularly if a new student. Which way? Where’s do I park? The student finally finds where to park, but now where’s the administration building? A new or prospective student might find this stressful and overwhelming if they can’t find their way around. <-Again no clear directions. Disabled students may try to go uphill (to the right) to access the Manzanita Building. Nothing here tells them there’s an elevator on campus, or where to find it.

Once the doors of the elevator open to the second level, there’s nothing to direct students where to go for what. Once found, the button to the automatic doors is located in a difficult spot some distance from the main doors. If a student is in a wheelchair or on crutches, he or she must maneuver between the bench and the pole to press the bar, then maneuver around the post to the doors and pass through (hopefully) before the doors close again. <- From the top of the main stairway, the automatic door opener can be pretty hard to find (it’s hidden behind a post).

When entering the Manzanita Building except for Admissions and Financial Aid, many services are hidden around corners. With limited signage at the entrances, new students and the public could be frustrated trying to find where they need to go.

Facilities

Willow is not handicap accessible. Someone in a wheel chair could not get into this building without going all the way around. A barrier, yes. Campus is not very disabled friendly. Sign indicating where to find the elevator cannot be seen from the road.

Metal door handles on hot days are not a good combination. This handle was 136 degrees on this summer afternoon. Not just door handles. . . the campus has many black handrails where students need to use them for safety reasons, e. g. , this handicapped parking spot, staircases, etc. On hot days, temperatures rise to unbearable levels. Burned hands do not benefit students.

<-. . . This “public” restroom is locked!

ed. ooth b s i h T NOTE: mov e r d n a azed s been r ha The "welcome" booth is abandoned and located next to the unfriendly parking pass machine (see next). Historically, there was someone here to answer questions or provide directions if needed. Now this is the visitors’ first impression of our college.

This photo shows that our parking pass machine is very outdated and presents a barrier to students. It only takes CASH -- 1 dollar bills only! If you don't have the cash, you can't park or you get an expensive parking ticket.

Student Access

For new students, just getting to the starting gate can be a barrier. Starting with the application. . . <- If the student takes the time to answer each of the questions, the process can take 20 minutes or more. How many have given up before it’s completed! Once the application has been submitted, the student must obtain their W number. . . they then face the “connect. Columbia” and clicking three times to get to the login and Menu screen, hunt for the registration “Search for Classes” or “Register for Classes” in over 40 menu items, then click through screen after screen stopping for their registration appointments, to verify personal information on 4 more screens before they can even begin to registration for their classes.

During the registration process students also face: Class Cancellations -> <- Student educational plans are impacted when their courses aren’t offered as advertised. A barrier to student success for many, students may have to return two to three semesters longer than planned if courses are cancelled and not offered again in a timely manner.

And if the student needs advice? Counselor availability this summer

Student Forms -> An outdated multiple measure form is found online. . . though an updated form is currently in use and must be obtained via a meeting with a counselor. Is that clear? Here’s a form a student obtained on campus but the form said mail or fax to Admissions. . . , "mail, email, fax or visit. . . " may have been more helpful for this student.

The Basic Necessities

have s e i l p p ood su f , ame. s m r e e h t t l l emain the Fa r f s o e t c i r r a e st gh p With th lenished thou p been re Instruction feeds the student’s brain, which is a good thing but students also need full bellies. <- Food offered at Lakeside Café this summer -- sparse and expensive.

This may, or may not be a barrier to student success but goose poo is slippery and nasty -- it gets on your shoes and tracks into the buildings. . . yuck!

<- OK, so this picture was not taken on campus, but too much of this could be a major barrier to student success. : )

Notes: Seven participants submitted 25 photos that were reviewed by the participants after the submission period ended. Each submitter was given a chance to explain his or her submissions and notes were taken. This review took place one week after the collection period ended after which all submissions were grouped into content themes and the participants’ written comments were summarized. All photos have been included here as submitted, reviewed by the group and the researchers with some verbiage changes made for grammar and clarity. Following the conclusion of the pilot project and prior to the first day of fall semester, several topics were addressed: • The dilapidated toll booth was torn town, • The parking ticket machine received a face life making it easier to spot from the ingress road though it still requires cash, • The sidewalks were cleaned of goose poo just before the semester started, • The cafeteria’s cold case (Lakeside Café) was restocked and readied for fall term, • The beer was consumed (off campus of course )

Columbia College - Photovoice Pilot Project Subject: Barriers to Student Success Respondents: Volunteer Staff and Administrators on campus Summer 2018 For more information, please contact one, any, or all of the college researchers: Christian Million, Research Analyst Columbia College, Kristin Rascon, SSSP Research Analyst Columbia College, Diana Sunday, Director Institutional Research & Planning Columbia College

References and Materials Used Literature Referenced: Facilitator’s Toolkit for a Photovoice Project Reframing Photovoice to Boost Its Potential for Learning Research Qualitative Methods for Institutional Research (RP Group Summer Institute Presentation) Initial Meeting Resources: Photovoice Process Document Acknowledgement of Release Form Photography Consent Form Sign-In Sheet Top 10 QR Scanner - Readers Follow-Up Meeting Resources: Feedback Received on Photovoice Procedures Photovoice Reaction Sheets Follow-Up Meeting Outline