Form SV-2010-0029 Sports and Culture: International Writing Program (IWP)

SURVEY of UNIVERSITY OF IOWA INTERNATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

September 15, 2010

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Statements:

The information solicited on this survey is requested pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-62) and the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act (22 U.S.C. 2451, et seq.). In order to ensure that the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange programs meet statutory program requirements (22 U.S.C. 2460(c)), the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) regularly monitors the programs, gathers data about program accomplishments, and evaluates selected ones. ECA uses the information collected to inform program design, management, and funding. All personal information that is collected through surveys is considered confidential. All responses are coded to ensure the confidentiality of individual responses. Data collected under this study will not be shared, sold, or used for fundraising purposes. Survey data and findings will be used only in an aggregate form for the express purposes of fulfilling the data needs of the outcome assessment. Responses to this survey are voluntary.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average thirty-five (35) minutes to respond to this survey, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Please send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to: A/ISS/DIR, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520.

SV 2010-0029 OMB No.: 1405-0158

Expiration Date: 04/30/2011

Estimated Burden Time: 35 minutes

1. In what year did you participate in the International Writing Program (IWP) as a Fall Resident?

A1. Drop-down list: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

2. Exchange programs provide participants with many important opportunities for learning and engaging people from other countries. In the table below, please identify the three most important accomplishments resulting from your participation in the International Writing Program.

	√
Improved my writing skills
Explored new or different approaches and techniques in creative writing or poetry
Learned about American fiction, poetry, drama, or screenplays
Interacted with a writing community
Explored a variety of writing styles and topics
Finished a work I brought with me
Conducted research for a new project
Developed professional contacts with writers from the U.S.
Developed professional contacts with writers from around the world
Developed professional contacts with publishers
Increased my contacts with translators
Shared my culture with others
Lived and worked in an academic setting
Other (Please write in):

3. How much did the International Writing Program meet your expectations? Please select one box.

Did not meet any of my expectations	Did not meet most of my expectations	Met some of my expectations	Met most of my expectations	Met all of my expectations

4. What is your most important accomplishment that is a direct result of your experience in the International Writing Program?

Q4. Open-ended response

5. To what extent did the International Writing Program improve your skills? Please select one box.

Not At All	To A Small Extent	To A Good Extent	To A Great Extent

6. Please provide an example of how you have been able to apply the skills and techniques that you learned during your residency.

A6. Open-ended response

7. Which aspects of the International Writing Program were the most valuable in increasing your writing skills and techniques? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No	Not Applicable
International Literature Today course
Weekly Public Panels
International Translation Workshop
Reading and performances
Playwrights’ program
The IWP Cinemateque
Cultural activities and field trips
Community interaction
Other (Please write in):

8. How has your experience in the International Writing Program impacted your career?

A8. Open-ended response

9. Have you done any of the following as a result of your participation in the International Writing Program? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Started or finished a new work
Organized a writing or poetry workshop
Participated in a writing or poetry workshop
Participated in a writers’ network
Critiqued and edited others’ works
Critiqued and edited your own work
Translated writing or poetry
Wrote a work in English
Mentored young writers
Collaborated in a writing, film or poetry project

10. As a direct result of your participation in the International Writing Program, have you done or received any of the following at work or in your community? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Higher level of responsibilities or leadership in the same job
Organized or initiated new activities or projects in the same job
New job with more responsibilities
Increased salary/wages
Received a fellowship or stipend to continue my writing
Assumed a leadership role or position in my community
Organized or initiated new activities and projects in my community
Established a new organization in my community
Taught or lectured at a university
Other (Please write in):

11. Thinking back, what was your level of knowledge about the following aspects of the United States before participating in the International Writing Program? Please select one box in each row.

	No Knowledge	Limited Knowledge	Moderate Knowledge	Extensive Knowledge
Daily life in the United States
American arts and culture
Religious diversity in the United States
Ethnic diversity in the United States
The U.S. political system
The U.S. economy
The U.S. legal system
Education in the United States
Freedom of speech and the press in the United States
Voluntary community services and philanthropy in the United States
American history
American popular culture
The United States overall

12. Thinking back, what was your level of knowledge about the following aspects of the United States after participating in the International Writing Program? Please select one box in each row.

	No Knowledge	Limited Knowledge	Moderate Knowledge	Extensive Knowledge
Daily life in the United States
American arts and culture
Religious diversity in the United States
Ethnic diversity in the United States
The U.S. political system
The U.S. economy
The U.S. legal system
Education in the United States
Freedom of speech and the press in the United States
Voluntary community services and philanthropy in the United States
American history
American popular culture
The United States overall

13. How did your views of the United States Government and the American people change as a result of your program participation? Please select one box in each row.

	Much less favorable	Less favorable	No change	More favorable	Much more favorable
United States Government
The American people

14. How did your fall residency in the United States influence your work?

A14. Open-ended response

15. Have you shared your experience or the knowledge you gained during your participation in the International Writing Program in any of the following ways? Please select all that apply.

	√
Discussion with your family
Discussion with your friends and community members
Discussion with other writers, poets, or playwrights
Discussion with students and colleagues at your university
Interview with a media outlet (newspaper, television, radio or Internet)
Wrote a newspaper or magazine article, including an editorial or opinion piece
Post on a blog or other Internet networking space
Reading of your work
Wrote an academic book
Wrote a non-academic book
Wrote a professional article for a journal or academic publication
Formal presentation at work
Formal presentation at a community event
Other (Please write in):

16. Do you think your family, friends and colleagues have a more favorable or less favorable opinion of the United States because of the information you shared with them? Please select one box.

Much less favorable	Less favorable	No change	More favorable	Much more favorable	I don’t know

17. Once the Fall Residency program ended, did you continue your work at the University of Iowa or another academic institution in the United States?

	√
Yes
No

18. Have you returned to the United States since you participated in the International Writing Program?

	√
Yes
No

19. If you did return to the United States, did you teach or lecture for the International Writing Program?

	√
Yes
No

20. How much time have you spent in the United States on business travel or for professional reasons other than for the International Writing Program since your fall residency in Iowa? Please select one box.

	√
None
Less than 1 month
1 month up to 3 months
3 months up to 6 months
6 months up to one year
One year or greater

21. If you traveled to the United States on business, what was the reason for traveling?

A21. Open-ended response

22. How much time have you spent in the United States on personal travel since your residency in Iowa? Please select one box.

	√
None
Less than 1 month
1 month up to 3 months
3 months up to 6 months
6 months up to one year
One year or greater

23. Have you been in contact with people you met during the International Writing Program?

	
Yes
No

If yes, go to Q24.

If no, go to Q25.

24. Of the following people you met through your participation in IWP, whom have you been in contact with since your return home? Please select all that apply.

	√
American writers
Other participants in the International Writing Program
Fall Residency Program Director
The Associate Director of the International Writing Program
The Director of the International Writing Program
Professors I met at the University of Iowa
U.S. Department of State staff in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Embassy/Consulate staff
International Writing Program alumni
Alumni of other U.S. exchange programs in my country
Other (Please write in):

25. Which forms of media do you primarily use to keep informed about American writing, arts and culture? Please select all that apply.

	√
Television
Radio
Film
Books
Newspapers
Magazines and trade journals
International Writing Program website
Arts and culture websites
News websites
Social networking sites (for example, Facebook and Twitter)
Internet photo and video sharing sites (for example, Flickr and YouTube)
Other (Please write in):

26. What types of writing projects are you currently working on? Please select one box in each row.

	Yes	No
Short stories
Books or novels
Articles or essays
Scripts or screenplays
Poetry
Other (Please write in):

27. Have any of your works been published since your participation in IWP as a Fall Resident?

	√
Yes
No

If yes, go to Q28.

If no, go to Q29.

28. Please describe your work that was published or produced.

A28. Open ended response

29. What is your current occupation?

A29. Open-ended response

30. What was your home country at the time of the program?

A30. Drop-down list (countries)

31. In which country do you currently live?

A31. Drop-down list (countries)

32. Which statement best describes the geographic location of where you currently live? Please select one box.

	√
My country’s capital
Another major city in my country other than the capital
A small city, town or rural location in my country

33. What is your age?

A33. Drop-down list (numbers)

34. What is your gender?

	√
Female
Male

35. If you have additional comments or suggestions for improving the International Writing Program, please give details here. We value your thoughts and feedback.

A35. Open-ended response

36. How long did it take for you to complete this survey?

A36. Drop-down list (minutes)

Thank you for completing this survey!

15 IWP Program Draft Survey 9-15-10