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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Student Services

RES EV 597: Assessment & Evaluation

Spring 2017

Rachael A. Blansett

Special thanks to Clare Lemke, Assistant Director of LGBTSS and Brad Freihoefer, Director of LGBTSS

Mix.Mingle.Munch: A Community-Building Program Series

PURPOSE

RESULTS

APPROACH, DESIGN & METHODS

RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

LGBTSS hosted their second program series entitled Mix.Mingle.Munch (MMM) in the spring semester of 2017. From conversations with students on campus and lack of representation at Iowa State, the LGBTSS staff realized there was a need for students who identify as asexual* (ACE), trans and gender non-conforming* (TGNC), and queer*/trans* people of color (QTPOC) to find community and meet others who identified within the same populations at Iowa State. The program agenda generally consists of greeting and introductions from the Center, overview of community standards, a mingling activity, crafting, and discussion.

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The purpose of this formative assessment was to create a space for ACE, TGNC, and QTPOC students to be able to come together and interact with one another.

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Objectives:

  • Students had a conversation with someone new
  • Students had a space to connect with people that identified as in-group*
  • Majority of participants had an interest in attending a second meeting

*Definitions can be found on right-side of page

GUIDING QUESTIONS

Surveys:

    • Did students that identify as ACE, TGNC, and QTPOC socialize with individuals they have never met before?
    • After attending this event, are students interested in participating in a subsequent event?
    • How many students attended each event?
    • What activity was the most enjoyed at each event?

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Focus Groups:

    • What characteristics are important in defining community for these populations?
    • Where are students finding community either on or outside of Iowa State University’s campus?

Program-Oriented Approach, Participant-Oriented Approach & Culturally Responsive Approach (Fitzgerald, Sanders & Worthen, 2011)

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Qualitative, cross-sectional design

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Large group discussion focus groups

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Paper Surveys

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Debrief Reflection Sessions

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The sample consisted of presumably ACE, TGNC, and QTPOC identified students at Iowa State University.

  • Gathered through social media advertising
  • Whoever chose to attend the event(s) was considered a part of the sample in this data set.

Fitzpatrick, J. L., Sanders, J. R., & Worthen, B. R. (2011). Program evaluation: Alternative approaches and practical guidelines (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

LIMITATIONS

  • Space limitations made it difficult to hold large groups of students and maneuver certain activities
  • Students stated there were moments of awkward silences an repetition of questions during mingling activities
  • Volunteers stated that it was hard to help everyone interact with one another during points of the evening
  • Lack of educational understanding around certain terms and definitions
  • Consistency was difficult due to different group dynamics over the course of the series assessment
  • Attempt to plan the MMM series for fall semester as to plan for subsequent events in the Spring
  • Introduce surveys at the beginning of the evening to ensure maximum participation in assessment collection
  • Partner with different organizations and departments on campus to plan for the events

If uninterested in repeating the MMM series, I would recommend the LGBTSS Center have a specific focus on building a queer community of color on campus by creating partnerships with different departments, developing outreach to various student orgs or color and creating a specific program or event for queer students of color.

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  • Prep a variety of activities as to be prepared for size of group and to avoid repetitive mingling questions
  • Train volunteers on facilitation tactics
  • Offer minimal educational resources/opportunities during the program
  • Develop a sustainable group of LGBTSS volunteers to help with future programming and events

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Community Characteristics:

100% of participants responded that they socialized with someone they had never met before!

Acceptance

Respect

Love

Community

Favorite Activity

Where are these students finding community?

Night

Activity Favored

ACE

Scavenger Hunt

TGNC

Speed Mingling

QTPOC

Gallery Walk

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ACE – Someone who does not experience sexual attraction

TGNC – An identity of a person whose gender identity is not aligned with their sex assigned at birth and/or whose gender expression is non-conforming; n identity of a person who has gender characteristics and/or behaviors that do not conform to traditional or societal gender expectations 

Queer – An umbrella term used to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to heteronormative society

In-group – A descriptor of someone who identifies within the same population as someone else

AVEN – The Asexual Visibility and Education Network; hosts the world’s largest online asexual community and archive of resources on asexuality

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Internet blog sites like Tumblr or AVEN*

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MMM Series was the first community students have encountered

Learning Communities that focus on racial identity rather than specifically queerness

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