Faculty Focus Groups & Surveys

This resource was created by Monica Clarke from Alabama A&M University, Dr. Diane McMahon from Allegany College of Maryland, and Naomi Valdez from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as part of the 2022 Ask Every Student Codesigner Cohort.

Presentation by Monica Clarke from Alabama A&M University, Dr. Diane McMahon from Allegany College of Maryland, and Naomi Valdez from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as part of the 2022 Ask Every Student Codesigner Cohort.

Meeting faculty where they are.

One of the best ways to ask every student is by working with faculty to integrate nonpartisan civic and voter engagement into their courses. However, this strategy is often more easily said than done. Codesigners from Alabama A&M University, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Allegany of College of Maryland worked together to figure out how to better understand and serve faculty stakeholders on their campus.

These resources can help you hold focus groups with and collect surveys from faculty to identify the incentives, resources, support, opportunities, and barriers addressed to include civic and voter engagement into their courses.

Faculty Engagement Surveys

The purpose of this survey is to identify the incentives, resources, support needed, and opportunities to help faculty include civic and voter engagement in their courses. Please feel encouraged to change, edit, add, and/or cut down the questions and to use this template as a starting point!

Sample Surveys from Codesigner Campuses

Get inspired by these sample surveys created and used by campuses:

Faculty Focus Groups

Hold focus groups with a diverse set of faculty to gain a deeper understanding of the resources, support, and opportunities they might need to integrate voter and civic engagement into their courses.

Sample Questions for Faculty Focus Groups

  • What interested you in being part of this focus group?

  • How might we invite faculty to be more involved with voter registration and education on campus? 

  • How do you think voter registration and education can support your education and professional goals?

  • What types of support would you need to help facilitate this work?

  • What program and degree areas do you think might lend itself to this work?

  • What kinds of incentives and awards should we offer faculty to incorporate voter registration and civic education into their courses?

  • Can you recommend other faculty members to be part of our research on faculty champions for civic engagement?

Faculty Focus Group Outreach Ideas

  • Provide Lunch

  • Frame it as “Coffee and Conversation”

  • Ask students to nominate their professors to participate

  • Ask faculty to nominate their students to participate

  • Provide gift cards to local restaurants

  • Provide gift cards to the bookstore, coffee shop

  • Offer items, like a mug or tech gift

  • Work with a department chair or trusted leader to encourage faculty to participate