Letter of Informed Consent

Course Director: Roopa Desai-TrilokekarPhone: 416-736-2100 ext. 77368Email: roopat@edu.yorku.ca Student Researcher: Anesa AlbertContact information: anesa_albert@ymail.com Dear participant,I am a student in the Faculty of Education, York University taking a course titled ‘ED5455: Student Experiences and Educational Outcomes in Colleges and Universities’. One of my assignments for this course is for me to seek further understanding of the experience of other students distinctly different from me and my experience; this difference could be based on a number of factors such as level or program of study, status such as “traditional” or “non traditional” student, nationality or ethnicity and gender. I would very much like to learn more about your perspectives and experiences as a student at the college and/or university level.If you agree to participate, I will request for you to fill out a questionnaire, which I will send to you via email communication. The questionnaire should not take more than 20-30 minutes.As a class, we do not for see any risks or discomfort from your participation in this endeavor. We believe that our research will further inform our colleagues about the diverse experience of students in post secondary education. I would be happy to share my assignment with you.Your participation is entirely voluntary and you may chose to stop participating at any time. Your decision to stop participating, or to refuse to answer particular questions, will not affect your relationship with us, York University, or any other group associated with this class or Faculty. In the event you withdraw from the study, all associated data collected from you will be destroyed wherever possible.Unless you indicate your consent, your name will not directly appear in any of my papers. I will collect information from your completed questionnaire in writing. I will safely store your data in a secure facility and only I will have access to this information. The data will be stored for a period of two years as per university policy and it will be destroyed after this period. Confidentiality will be provided to the fullest extent possible by law.If you have questions about the research in general or about your role in the assignment, please feel free to contact Dr. Roopa Desai Trilokekar either by phone at 416-736-2100 ext. 77368 or by email at ( roopat@edu.yorku.ca ). The research for this assignment has been reviewed by the Human Participants Review Sub-Committee Tri-Council Research Ethics guidelines. If you have any questions about this process or about your right as a participant in the study, please contact Ms. Alison Collins-Mrakas, Manager, Research Ethics, 5th Floor, York Research Tower, York University (telephone 416-736-5914 or email acollins@yorku.ca ).Thank you in advance, I look forward to your cooperation and participation.Sincerely,Anesa Albert