UIS to conduct second Sangamon County Citizen Survey focusing on attitudes towards education

The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, and the United Way of Central Illinois are partnering to assess the quality of life in the Springfield area through the 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey.

This is the second time that the partners have conducted the survey, which is designed to assess the quality of life over the next decade. Results of the 2015 survey will be released on June 26 at the Citizens Club of Springfield Policy Breakfast. The survey covers topics, such as culture and recreation, education, health, economy, government and civic participation, environment, public safety, infrastructure, and social wellbeing.

This year the survey will pay special attention to education issues affecting the community. “The citizen’s survey offers a chance for our community to better understand issues affecting education, financial stability and health, which are the building blocks for a good quality of life,” said John Kelker, president at United Way of Central Illinois. “A greater emphasis on education this year allows us to better evaluate resources being invested in this area.”

“One of the major findings of the 2013 survey was that Sangamon County residents believe education plays an important role in improving Sangamon County. This year’s survey includes additional questions in order to provide a more in-depth examination of these attitudes,” said John Stremsterfer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.

Researchers from the UIS Survey Research Office, part of the Center for State Policy & Leadership, will combine a traditional landline telephone survey with a survey of cell phone users who live in Sangamon County. The final sample will include over 500 randomly selected Sangamon County residents. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

“We are very lucky to have partners committed to continuing the Sangamon County Citizen Survey. This is a great source of data for community leaders and allows UIS to help provide longitudinal insights into issues facing local residents,” said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office.

Similar to past efforts, volunteers appointed by the three organizations and the Citizens Club of Springfield, formed the 2015 Citizen Survey Steering Committee, which helped to develop meaningful questions for the survey.

Members of the 2015 Citizen Survey Steering Committee include: John Allen, Citizens Club; Dr. Gordon Brown, Citizens Club; Heather Burton, Central Counties Health Centers; Josh Collins, Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Croke; Barbara Ferrara, UIS; Jennifer Gill, Springfield District #186; Bob Gray, Citizens Club; Angela Hall, Hospital Sisters Health System; John James, Boys & Girls Club; John Kelker, United Way of Central Illinois; Valerie Peterson, United Way of Central Illinois; Norm Sims, Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission; Katrina Schroeder, United Way of Central Illinois; John Stremsterfer, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln; Amy Uden, SIU; Kenley Wade, Citizens Club; Jade Washington, Sangamon CEO; and Dominic Watson.

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Ashley Kirzinger at 217/206-7956 or akirz2@uis.edu. Visit the UIS Survey Research Office website for more information http://cspl.uis.edu/surveyresearchoffice/.