DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH
Real College California: A Study of the Real Experiences of California Community College Students is trying to create colleges that better assist students with finishing college. Real College is a research study originally developed by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. You are invited to participate in a survey to help us better understand the challenges students face while attending college and to learn more about how students overcome these challenges.
WHAT WILL MY PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?
This survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You can choose to skip any question you don't want to answer. All information you provide will be kept private.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO ME?
While we will make every effort to protect your data by storing it on Alchemer's (this Survey Platform) secure server, there is always a small risk of a breach of confidentiality.
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO ME?
There are no direct benefits to participating in this study. However, your participation in this research may benefit other people in the future by helping college leaders, faculty, support programs, legislators, and others learn more about students’ college experiences.
WILL I BE COMPENSATED FOR MY PARTICIPATION?
By completing this survey, you will be entered into a drawing to receive one of twenty (20) $250 incentives. Incentives will be awarded randomly to survey respondents. If you wish to enter the drawing, we will ask you to provide an email address so that The RP Group can contact you to receive your $250 check. We will not use your email address for any purpose other than awarding the incentive. It is your choice whether you want to enter your email address.
HOW WILL MY CONFIDENTIALITY BE PROTECTED?
Your privacy is very important to us. Your name will not be used in any publications of this study. Only group data will be published. All of the information collected in this study will be treated confidentially. Survey data will be stored on Alchemer (this survey platform)'s secure server. After the incentives have been awarded, we will destroy your contact information. To protect your privacy, only approved personnel will have access to the data. Please note that survey responses will be provided to the college you identify in this survey. This information is shared with your college to support colleges with their efforts in understanding and helping students with their needs. At the end of the survey, you will be given an option to provide your college-assigned student ID. Doing so will allow your college and statewide researchers to explore patterns between students’ survey responses and their longer-term outcomes. If you prefer to remain anonymous, please leave this question blank.
WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
You may ask any questions about the research at any time. If you have questions about the research after you complete the survey, you should contact The RP Group's Director of Research, Evaluation, and Development, Dr. Katie Brohawn, at kbrohawn@rpgroup.org
AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. If you decide not to participate or to withdraw from the survey, you may do so at any time. Study data may be used for future purposes. By continuing on to the survey, you certify that you are at least 18 years old and voluntarily consent to participate.