The University of Maine at
Machias and Community:
Impact of UMM Students, Faculty, and
Staff on Washington County
Presentation of Problem

Research Questions
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RQ1: How does the University of Maine at Machias
impact the Machias community and Washington
County?
Presentation of Problem

Research Questions cont…
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RQ2: How do UMM students allocate their resources
and volunteer time within the Machias community and
in Washington County?
H2: UMM students allocate their resources in such
places as local stores, restaurants and gas stations;
and volunteer their time doing various forms of
community service.
Presentation of Problem

Research Questions cont…
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RQ3: How does UMM faculty allocate their resources
and volunteer time within the Machias community and
in Washington County?
H3: UMM faculty allocate their resources in such
places as local stores, restaurants and gas stations;
and volunteer their time doing various forms of
community service.
Presentation of Problem

Research Questions cont…


RQ4: How does UMM staff allocate their resources
within the Machias community and in Washington
County?
H4: UMM staff allocate their resources in such places
as local stores, restaurants and gas stations; and
volunteer their time doing various forms of community
service.
Presentation of Problem

Prior Research


Lack of research done on the impact of smaller
universities on their communities.
Motivations of study
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
Intellectual-class research project
Personal-research team are UMM students
Presentation of Problem

Social Theory

Functionalism
UMM students, faculty and
staff working together to
maintain a successful
institution.
Defining Key Terms

Concepts

Community-UMM community, Machias community and
Washington County.

Unit of analysis

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Students, Faculty and Staff
Qualitative Research

Justification for qualitative research
Research Design

Methods Used
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Focus groups
In-depth interviews
Justifications for Methodologies
Results

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Students volunteer with blood drives and 1 student
volunteers at the American Legion (RQ 2).
Faculty volunteers at the Chamber of Commerce,
Washington County One, Grand Lake Folk Art
Festival, Whiting Food Pantry and Caring Community
Collaborative (RQ 3).
Staff volunteer at the Order of Eastern Star, Library
Directors Counsel, and Church Committees (RQ 4).
Results

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Resources were allocated at local gas stations,
restaurants and stores (RQ 2, 3 and 4).
Students with families spent $400-$480 a month on
food. On gas they spent an average of $200.
Faculty spent an average of $356 a month on food
and gas combined, with a range of $120-$700.
Staff spent an average of $380 a month in food and
gas combined, with a range of $240-$500.
Conclusions


Summary and Additional Findings
Limitations



Time constraints
Resource constraints
Future Research
Thank You


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

Students
Faculty
Staff
Lisa Athearn
Research Methods and Designs Class
The University of Maine at
Machias and Community:
Impact of UMM students, faculty, and
staff on Washington County