Evaluation

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With an evaluation plan in place, campus administrators and coalitions can assess whether a particular program or policy is working as intended and then decide whether it should continue as is or be expanded, revised, or terminated. Evaluation is an essential part of strategic planning, because evaluation findings are used to guide plans for midcourse improvements. A well-designed evaluation can document how a prevention initiative was implemented and assess its intermediate and long-term outcomes. With these findings in hand, the planning group can develop plans for strengthening or improving that effort. Evaluation is an important management tool in an academic environment, where the collection, assessment, and interpretation of evidence are highly valued activities.

 

Featured Resources

Report cover - College Costs in Context A State-by-State Look at College (Un)Affordability

Analyzes state-level college affordability at two- and four-year public colleges, by focusing on the share of family income required to cover the net price paid by students at each income level. The report finds striking inequities in public college affordability, both within and across states. While college costs are high relative to family incomes for most students in most states, the lowest income students face the most extreme and unrealistic financial expectations. Sortable data by state and sector are also available for download.

Cover page of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation resource

Provides a library of information concerning assessment, evaluation, and research methodology. Resources include tutorials, FAQs, abstracts, digests, journals, web links, and other publications.

Thumbnail cover image - Expectations Meet Reality: The Underprepared Student and Community Colleges

Explores the experiences of community college students in the areas of assessment, placement, and developmental education. The report critically examines the "broken state" of developmental education and the implications it has on the academic outcomes of underprepared students. As a recommendation to resolve this issue, the report encourages colleges to review their programs, measurement systems, and student data when developing strategies to help underprepared students successfully complete college-level work.

American Institutes for Research

U.S. Department of Education

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