Exploring the Relation Between Institutional Accommodations and Educational Satisfaction

University of St. Thomas – Institutional Review Board Informed Consent to Participate in Research

You are being asked to participate in the research project described below. Your participation in this study is voluntary; you may refuse to participate, or you may decide to stop your participation at any time.

Should you refuse to participate or withdraw your consent and stop participating in the study, your decision will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you may be entitled otherwise. Please read the information below carefully and ask questions about anything you do not understand before deciding whether to participate.

STUDY TITLE: Exploring the Relation Between Institutional Accommodations and Educational Satisfaction

RESEARCHER(S): Monica Ortiz

FACULTY ADVISOR: Dr. Crystal D. Tran

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study aims to examine the association of educational satisfaction among students who report psychological and/or physical disabilities. Exploring how institutional/educational settings, type of disability, services available, and satisfaction of services correlate with educational satisfaction. The research seeks to convey potential mechanisms for more supportive and inclusive systems for students.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 100

PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPANTS: As the participant you will be asked to complete a 5-part questionnaire via SurveyMonkey. Before beginning, you will be provided with an Informed Consent form to review. Choosing to proceed with the questionnaires will indicate your consent to participate. Upon providing consent, you will be prompted to complete various questionnaires asking about your demographic information: academic and disability background, use of services, student experiences, and educational satisfaction. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the survey at any time without penalty. After completing the survey, you will have the option to click "Submit" to finalize your responses. If you attend the University of St. Thomas and are enrolled in a Psychology class, you will be prompted to fill out a form to obtain 0.5 credit hours of extra credit.

EXPECTED DURATION OF PARTICIPATION: Approximately 15-30 minutes

RISKS OF PARTICIPATION AND SAFEGUARDS: As with any survey collecting information, there is a possible risk of a breach of confidentiality. Additionally, participants may experience emotional distress during the completion of the survey. In the event of a data breach, the information provided by participants cannot be linked back to them, as survey responses are not associated with any identifying information. If you experience any discomfort or distress due to participation you may reach out to: 988 Suicide & Crisis Line and SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP), available in both English and Spanish. You may also choose the option to withdraw from the study at any point during your participation. Furthermore, you are encouraged to seek support from your institution’s student affairs or counseling services if needed.

POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION: No direct benefits are expected by participation in this study

COMPENSATION: 0.5 extra credit hours will be offered to students enrolled in a psychology course at UST and they will be able to sign up for this extra credit upon completing the survey.

There is no compensation offered to non-UST students.

PARTICIPANT PRIVACY: The study uses an anonymous survey to collect data. The researcher will not collect any information that could identify you as the participant.

ACCESS TO RECORDS: The following people will have access to study records that do not include your name or other identifying information: Primary Researcher: Monica Ortiz and Faculty Advisor: Dr. Crystal D. Tran

CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS: Every effort will be made to keep your study records confidential. The data collected from the study may be used for educational and publication purposes, but you will not be identified by name. The researcher will securely maintain study records for a minimum of three years, after which the records will be destroyed.

LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY: There are some circumstances in which confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. These include the following: danger to self or others, abuse of vulnerable adults, or other third-party reporting requirements.

FUTURE USE OF DATA: The researcher may use your data in future research without obtaining your permission; however, your identifying information will not be included with your data in future research.

INVESTIGATOR’S RIGHT TO WITHDRAW PARTICIPANT: The researcher has the right to withdraw you from this study at any time.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS: The researcher has offered to answer all your questions. If you have additional questions during the course of this study about the research or any related problem, you may contact the researcher, Monica Ortiz, at Ortiz.Monica@stthom.edu. The faculty advisor, Dr. Crystal D. Tran, may be contacted at Trandn1@stthom.edu

THIS RESEARCH STUDY HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.

For additional information concerning your rights as a human subject, please contact Max Bonilla, Vice-President of Academic Affairs, 713-525-2164.

STUDY CRITERIA AND AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE: To participate in this study, you must be:

• 18+ years old
• Enrolled college/university students
• Students with a disability (self-report)