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<p class="MsoNormal">Take part in a research study entitled “<b>Employer Perceptions of Career Training in the Geosciences</b>.”
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is it? </b>The survey is designed to collect information regarding geoscience employers’ thoughts, feelings, and ideas on applicants’ preparedness for the positions for which they are applying. We expect that the survey (linked
below) will take approximately <b>15 minutes</b> to complete. It will be available until
<b>April 8<sup>th</sup>, 2021. </b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who should participate?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyone who may be in the position to hire or work with newly graduated geoscientists.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What do I get out of this?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your feedback will help prepare future geoscientists. You can also enter a random drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card. Your survey answers and email address will not be linked when you enter the drawing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you know someone who you feel might be a good fit to participate in this study, we ask that you let them know about this research project.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SURVEY LINK: </b><a href="https://niu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eXe2K0tyWsM1Js"><b>Employer Perceptions of Career Training in the Geosciences Survey</b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More information including a description of the protocols and intentions of the project, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a participant, are included below in the Informed Consent Section.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you very much, and we hope you choose to participate!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Megan Brown, PhD, Parker Porter-Mareth, and Ashley Barry<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Northern Illinois University<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>INFORMED CONSENT<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Title of research study</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">:
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Employer Perceptions of Career Training in the Geosciences<span style="color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<h2><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Investigators:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"> Dr. Megan Brown, Department of Geology
and Environmental Geosciences, Northern Illinois University, </span><a href="mailto:mbrown18@niu.edu"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">mbrown18@niu.edu</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">
and undergraduate researchers Parker Porter-Mareth and Ashley Barry.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
<br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Key Information:<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:106%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">This is a voluntary research study on the perceptions of career training in the geosciences<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:106%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The study consists of an online survey to be completed by geoscience professionals<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:106%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The benefits include learning the skills employers' value in geoscience graduates to enable up to date curriculum in geoscience courses<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:106%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">There are minimal risks that may include discomfort associated with disclosing personal information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:106%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you agree to participate in this study, you will complete the following survey which should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Confidentiality:<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">No personally identifying information will be intentionally collected. Any information deemed identifying will be anonymized prior to analysis. The anonymized information will be
stored on a password-protected computer, and retained for use in possible follow-up studies at future dates.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Compensation:<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you wish, you can enter a random drawing to win a $100 Amazon gift card
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">at the end of the survey</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Your Rights:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The decision to participate in this study is entirely up to you. You may refuse to take part in the study at any time. You have the right to skip any question on the survey, as well as to withdraw
completely from participation at any point during the survey. You have the right to ask questions about this research study and to have those questions answered before, during, or after the research. If you have any further questions about the study at any
time, feel free to contact Dr. Megan Brown at </span><a href="mailto:mbrown18@niu.edu"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">mbrown18@niu.edu</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">. If you have any questions about your rights as a research
participant that have not been answered by the investigators or if you have any problems or concerns that occur as a result of your participation, you may contact the Office of Research Compliance, Integrity, and Safety at (815) 753-8588.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
</span><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Future Use of Research Data:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The anonymized information collected during this survey could be used for future research studies or distributed to another investigator for future studies without additional informed consent
from you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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