Impact of UMM on Washington County: Community Engagement Study

1. The University of Maine at Machias and Community: Impact of UMM Students, Faculty, and Staff on Washington County

2. Presentation of Problem • Research Questions • RQ1: How does the University of Maine at Machias impact the Machias community and Washington County?

3. Presentation of Problem • Research Questions cont… • RQ2: How do UMM students allocate their resources and volunteer time within the Machias community and in Washington County? • H2: UMM students allocate their resources in such places as local stores, restaurants and gas stations; and volunteer their time doing various forms of community service.

4. Presentation of Problem • Research Questions cont… • RQ3: How does UMM faculty allocate their resources and volunteer time within the Machias community and in Washington County? • H3: UMM faculty allocate their resources in such places as local stores, restaurants and gas stations; and volunteer their time doing various forms of community service.

5. Presentation of Problem • Research Questions cont… • RQ4: How does UMM staff allocate their resources within the Machias community and in Washington County? • H4: UMM staff allocate their resources in such places as local stores, restaurants and gas stations; and volunteer their time doing various forms of community service.

6. Presentation of Problem • Prior Research • Lack of research done on the impact of smaller universities on their communities. • Motivations of study • Intellectual-class research project • Personal-research team are UMM students

7. Presentation of Problem • Social Theory • Functionalism UMM students, faculty and staff working together to maintain a successful institution.

8. Defining Key Terms • Concepts • Community-UMM community, Machias community and Washington County. • Unit of analysis • Students, Faculty and Staff • Qualitative Research • Justification for qualitative research

9. Research Design • Methods Used • Focus groups • In-depth interviews • Justifications for Methodologies

10. Results • Students volunteer with blood drives and 1 student volunteers at the American Legion (RQ 2). • Faculty volunteers at the Chamber of Commerce, Washington County One, Grand Lake Folk Art Festival, Whiting Food Pantry and Caring Community Collaborative (RQ 3). • Staff volunteer at the Order of Eastern Star, Library Directors Counsel, and Church Committees (RQ 4).

11. Results • Resources were allocated at local gas stations, restaurants and stores (RQ 2, 3 and 4). • Students with families spent $400-$480 a month on food. On gas they spent an average of $200. • Faculty spent an average of $356 a month on food and gas combined, with a range of $120-$700. • Staff spent an average of $380 a month in food and gas combined, with a range of $240-$500.

12. Conclusions • Summary and Additional Findings • Limitations • Time constraints • Resource constraints • Future Research

13. Thank You • Students • Faculty • Staff • Lisa Athearn • Research Methods and Designs Class

14. The University of Maine at Machias and Community: Impact of UMM students, faculty, and staff on Washington County