National Resource Centers Program Director Interview Protocol

Public Burden Statement

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number, xxxx-xxxx. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is voluntary. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Amy Wilson, U.S. Department of Education, International and Foreign Language Education, 1990 K St., NW, Washington, DC 20006-8521 or email amy.wilson@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number xxxx-xxxx.

UISFL Program Director Interview Protocol

Introduction

The Office of International and Foreign Language Education (IFLE) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is conducting an assessment of the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) Program. As part of this assessment, we are interviewing program directors about various aspects of project outcomes, evaluation, and sustainability. Your input is critical to understanding the degree to which the UISFL program is strengthening and improving undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign language and how best to structure ongoing data collection and evaluation of the UISFL program.

DATA/REPORTING QUESTIONS

1. In what year did you last enter data into the International Resource Information System (IRIS) for your UISFL project? (e.g., Calendar Year)

2. Do you recall approximately how long (e.g., hours) it took to compile the necessary data and enter it into the system? (interim report; final report)

3. From your recollection, were the kinds of data required in IRIS useful to understanding your program’s successes and areas in need of improvement? Please describe the benefits and/or shortcomings of the data currently collected in IRIS.

4. Please talk about the kinds of IRIS data or evidence that have been the most useful in understanding the successes and areas for improvement of your UISFL program. Is there other data that IRIS does not currently collect that would be useful?

5. What do you consider the greatest successes of your UISFL program in strengthening and improving undergraduate instruction in international studies and foreign language? What kinds of data or evidence are available to showcase these?

6. What aspects or activities have been continued beyond the UISFL funding?

7. In what ways do you use data to encourage continued financial and other types of support for your programs?

8. Do you use data (reported in IRIS or elsewhere) to leverage additional funding for your program? If so, how?

9. Do you feel your data clearly show your program’s effectiveness? Why or why not?

10. What other information could we collect from the projects to illustrate issues of course and college completion? Workforce development?

PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT QUESTIONS (continued onto page 2)

1. What data present the most compelling case for continued federal (Title VI) program funding based on demonstrating the merit of the UISFL grant project?

2. What difficulties do you have with the matching process/component?

3. Do you believe that consortiums should be required for UISFL? Why or why not?

4. What about the current UISFL program works and what doesn’t? What strategies/practices work best? What challenges have you faced with your program?

5. If you could change three things about the UISFL grant program to make it more effective, what would they be?

6. Do you believe the current frequency and number of required reports to ED is appropriate? Please elaborate on your response.

7. Do you believe that the current duration of funding for this program is appropriate to result in the desired outcomes? Why or why not?

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