Thank you for your interest in participating in this research study. The Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is committed to the ethical conduct of research and to the protection at all times of the interests, comfort, and safety of participants. This form, and the information it contains, are given to you for your own protection and full understanding of the procedures.
Your checkbox consent will signify that:
you have received a document that describes the procedures, possible risks, and benefits of this research project.
you have received adequate time to consider the information in the document; and,
you voluntarily agree to participate in this project.
Please read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in this study.
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Purpose/Objectives of the Study
We are inviting UFV students who come from an array of diverse backgrounds and identities to participate in an online survey that will take approximately 10-12 minutes. This study has two main components: (1) an online survey; and (2) focus groups. The survey will collect data about experiences of UFV students as they interact with the UFV community and institution to provide necessary insights to design, implement and respond with better efficacy to the student population’s needs. The results of this study will be used to inform the improvement of student resources and development of policy recommendations to uphold the principles of Indigenization, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UFV. Our findings will be presented in a final report, and may also be shared through presentations, conferences, and/or publications.
This study is being conducted by the Community Health and Social Innovation Hub at UFV. The research team is led by Chelsea Klassen, Lead Researcher at CHASI, in collaboration with Dr. Martha Dow, Jenna Kerr, and Amrit Mahal.
Procedures Involved in the Research
Your participation in this survey will require approximately 10-12 minutes. Completion is completely voluntary. You may see this survey promoted by various UFV professors, on social media, or on campus – please only respond to the survey once. This survey is generated using a platform called Simple Survey. Simple Survey is an online surveying platform that ensures all data is securely stored, backed-up, and managed through Canadian servers. The questions in this survey are intended to collect data regarding student experiences at UFV as they are shaped by individual and collective identities. During the survey, you will be answering questions adopted from the General Belongingness Scale (GBS: Malone et al., 2012), Sense of Belonging Scale (Imperial College of London, n.d.), and survey of student belongingness, engagement and self-confidence (York, 2014) to assess the feelings of belonging and affirmation a student may experience with regard to their university community and institution. You will be provided with more in-depth information about the purpose of the study in the debrief at the end of the study.
Potential Benefits
As a participant in this study, you will receive no direct benefit. Your decision to participate, or not, is in no way connected to your class(es) or your grades. However, participating in this study will provide the researcher and the research community with valuable data to help reduce institutional barriers at UFV and gain a sense of how students feel they are welcomed by or belong to the UFV community. After finishing the survey, participants will have the option to enter in a draw to win one of five $100 gift cards. The predicted odds of winning are approximately 1 in 200. In order to be entered in this draw participants must provide their email address, which will not be linked to their survey responses. If you win a gift card, your name will be given to UFV Finance and securely stored in case of audit; however, your name will not be linked to your survey data.
Potential Harms, Risks or Discomforts to Participants
Participants may experience emotional discomfort by discussing their experiences of feeling neglected, excluded or mistreated due to their identity. This may cause some individuals to feel distressed or to have an emotional reaction. Should you feel distressed at any point during the study, you may withdraw without any penalty. If you are distressed in any way by taking part in the survey, please contact the regional crisis line 604-951-8855 or toll-free at 1-877-820-7444. You can also contact BC 211 by calling or texting 2-1-1, Here2Talk at www.here2talk.ca, or Here to Help by calling 8-1-1. Additional resources include UFV Counselling services (call 604-854-4528 (Abbotsford) or 604-795-2808 (Chilliwack), or book an online at www.ufv.ca/counselling/) and the Indigenous Student Centre (https://www.ufv.ca/isc/)
Confidentiality
The data in this study will be confidential. All identifying information obtained from the survey data will not be stored. Additionally, this consent form will be stored separately from your data. The final report of this study will not include individual data in a form by which you could be identified. The raw data will be stored securely on an institutional password-protected USB or secure OneDrive. The anonymized datasets will be kept indefinitely in order to track institutional change, and may be shared with relevant stakeholders.
Participation
Your participation in this research study is completely voluntary. By clicking “Agree” at the beginning of the survey you are indicating your consent to participate. However, closing the browser will allow you to exit the survey and withdraw your participation. In this case, the data you provided will not be saved. At the end of the survey, you will have an option to click “Submit” or withdraw by exiting the browser. However, after clicking “Submit” you will not be able to withdraw from the study as the data you provided is aggregated and unidentifiable. If you are not comfortable answering a question, you can just leave it blank and continue to the next question.
Study Results
If you are interested in the results of the study, please contact Chelsea Klassen by email at Chelsea.Klassen@ufv.ca. A final written report will be disseminated to the project partners and other relevant stakeholders. CHASI may also publish the findings in scholarly articles, at conferences or at events.
Questions
If you have any further questions about this study, please feel free to contact Chelsea Klassen at Chelsea.Klassen@ufv.ca.
CONTACT FOR CONCERNS
If you have any concerns regarding your rights or welfare as a participant in this research study, please contact the Ethics Officer at 604-557-4011 or Research.Ethics@ufv.ca. The ethics of this research project have been reviewed and approved by the UFV Human Research Ethics [Protocol #101623, October 25, 2024].
Consent Form
By clicking below, I agree to participate in this study, titled: Together Empowered: Intersectionality and the UFV Student Experience Project.
By completing the survey and clicking the “I agree” statement below, I agree to the research team gathering my answers and including them in the study, titled: Together Empowered: Intersectionality and the UFV Student Experience Project.
I have read the information presented in the letter of informed consent for the study being conducted by Mrs. Chelsea Klassen at the Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). I have had the opportunity to ask questions about my involvement in this study and to receive any additional details.
I understand that I have the right to withdraw from the study until I click “Submit” on the final page of the survey. If I have any questions about the study, I should contact Mrs. Chelsea Klassen at Chelsea.Klassen@ufv.ca.
If I have any concerns regarding my rights or welfare as a participant in this research study, I can contact the UFV Ethics Officer at 604-557-4011 or Research.Ethics@ufv.ca. The ethics of this research project have been reviewed and approved by the UFV Human Research Ethics Board.