Research & Activities
Project Work Plan
Phase 1: Project Set-Up, Recruitment, and Applications (August-December 2022)
August-September will be used for set-up (planning and relationship-building to ensure implementation process), including: consolidation of ties with collaborating stakeholders; organization of planning, human resources, and infrastructure; and configuration of communication channels and technologies (e.g., website design). A SJ4A Recruitment Board (mix of BIPOC and white archives related professionals) will be created to recruit student enrollees. Recruitment will begin with a focus on applicants’ potential for developing and operationalizing social justice outcomes in their workplaces and communities.
Phase 2: Needs Assessment Interviews, Conversations with Employers, Planning and Relationship Building (August-December 2022)
Online SJ4A Needs Assessment Interviews will be conducted during August-December 2022 with fifty archives-related professionals who will provide feedback regarding challenges in developing and integrating social justice in their regions. These will include potential members who will be recruited for the SJ4A Practitioner-Mentoring Board. They will address topics related to local information needs, use of information resources and services, challenges and barriers, areas of improvement, and the use of computers and information technologies to further social justice and impact-driven offerings in archives-related settings. Notes will be taken during these conversations to permit additional content analysis.
Phase 3: Implementation of the Educational and Training Segment (Ongoing from January 2023 through December 2024)
Students will be admitted and selected into the program and begin classes in January 2023. Admitted student will participate in the online SJ4A New Student Orientation during January 2023, prior to the start of the Spring 2023 semester. This orientation will be an extension of the traditional UA SLIS orientation to include an introduction to both the MLIS and SJ4A requirements. The session will focus on the role of social justice in developing archives and archives-related practices, how these can support their communities of service, and the challenges and opportunities in implementing social justice justice-driven programs and initiatives. During the period of January-May 2023, SJ4A students will be paired with mentors. These mentors will assist SJ4A students in developing and implementing community information initiatives and provide professional development advice. Though this is a structured program [See course topics in Table 1], there is flexibility in selecting electives, formulating the practicum, and defining mentorship experiences.
Course websites are available here: SJ4A Courses
Phase 4: Ongoing Evaluations and Online SJ4A Annual Summits (December 2023 and December 2024)
This phase will continuously analyze the effectiveness of students’ experiences in developing archival studies and social justice applications in their courses for their work environments. Data will be collected on career choice, academic success, professional association participation, and the graduates’ evaluation of the program. Also, random interviews with will be conducted with the students each semester. At the conclusion of the program, the project team will conduct exit interviews. Summary information will be included in the final report to IMLS.
Phase 5: Formal Dissemination (Ongoing)
This phase will focus on dissemination of program findings and conclusions. Once evaluation is complete throughout the program, the activities for dissemination will include: (1) Development/refinement of a documented model for public dissemination; (2) Development of annual reports to IMLS; (3) Dissemination of findings through conference presentations such as ALISE, ASIS&T, SAA, ALA, and PLA and LIS publications. A website will be managed by a half-time graduate assistant. SJ4A students will have their program progress submitted to this website.
Phase 6: Post-Graduation Tracking of Career Development (January -July 25)
Once SJ4A students graduate, monthly online meetings with faculty will help track career development at their place of work. Collective online meetings with the 12 BIPOC graduates will be planned to support their post-graduation professional growth. The cohort will form the SJ4A Alumni Committee to ensure the project’s sustainability (once funding is over). Participation in the Post-Graduation Tracking of Career Development is a required component of the program. Additionally, SJ4A graduates will be invited to continue to participate in ongoing research, including conference presentations and published research outputs.
