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Session Title: Graduate Student and New Evaluators TIG Business Meeeting and Presentation: Learning for High Quality Evaluation Practice: Training Options, Experiences, and Lessons Learned
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Business Meeting with Panel Session 604 to be held in International Ballroom E on Friday, November 9, 1:55 PM to 3:25 PM
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Sponsored by the Graduate Student and New Evaluator TIG
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| TIG Leader(s):
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Chris Coryn,
Western Michigan University,
christian.coryn@wmich.edu
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Stephen Hulme,
Brigham Young University,
byusnowboarder@yahoo.com
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Daniela C Schroeter,
Western Michigan University,
daniela.schroeter@wmich.edu
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Annette Griffith,
University of Nebraska, Lincoln,
annettekgriffith@hotmail.com
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| Chair(s): |
| Bianca Montrosse,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
montrosse@mail.fpg.unc.edu
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| Abstract:
Gaining relevant experiences are paramount for those seeking to pursue entry into the evaluation workforce (e.g., Altschuld & Engle, 1994; Berkel, 2004; Dewey, Montrosse, Schroeter, Sullins, & Mattox, 2006; Engle & Altschuld, 2004; Stevahn, King, Ghere, & Minnema, 2005, 2006; Stufflebeam, & Wingate, 2005). However, those seeking to pursue various experience opportunities are often left wandering down a path for which there is no map. That is, they are aware that experience matters, but knowing how to locate these opportunities and cultivate realistic expectations often serve as barriers. Too often, students and new evaluators are unable to identify these opportunities or are left unsatisfied with their experiences. The purpose of this panel is two-fold. First, it will provide a general overview of how to locate various opportunities. Second, presenters with relevant expertise will discuss their experiences, lessons learned, and offer advice for those seeking to pursue similar opportunities.
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Locating Training Opportunities: Strategies That Work
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| John LaVelle,
Claremont Graduate University,
john.lavelle@cgu.edu
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Evaluation is a skill set that is in great demand both in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, and the importance of learning opportunities and work experiences in evaluation is undisputed. Unfortunately, both students and new practitioners alike experience difficulty locating appropriate opportunities, which can leave them disappointed and anxious. The presenter will draw on his experience as Jobs Coordinator at Claremont Graduate University to share general job search strategies such as 1) using online resources, 2) network, network, network, and 3) indicators that an evaluation opportunity might be present even if the description does not say 'evaluation'.
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Being an Urban Education Research Fellow for the Los Angeles Unified School District
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| Eric Barela,
Los Angeles Unified School District,
eric.barela@lausd.net
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The Urban Education Research Fellowship (UERF), offered by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), offers graduate students in a variety of social science research disciplines the opportunity to conduct evaluation in a unique environment. Aside from receiving tuition reimbursement and half-time employment, the UERF provides a crash course in school district evaluation. Dahler-Larsen (2002) suggests that it is difficult to separate evaluation practice from the organization in which it occurs. This is very true of school district evaluation. There are unique political pressures that exist in a school district that provide challenges and opportunities for evaluators. The UERF gives graduate students seeking to become school district evaluators the opportunity to reconcile their theoretical training with the real-world constraints placed on school district evaluation while also providing them with guidance and mentoring from a community of over 30 practicing evaluators.
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Navigating the Non-Profit World: The HeartShare Human Services of New York Experience
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| Ariana Brooks,
HeartShare Human Services,
ariana.brooks@heartshare.org
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Since opening its doors in 1914, HeartShare Human Services of New York has strived to improve the lives of those most in need. Currently, this non-profit agency provides a complete spectrum of services (e.g., youth programs, HIV/AIDS services, Medicaid service coordination) to more than 16,000 individuals living in the New York City area. This presentation will focus on making the transition from graduate school to this large not-for-profit. More specifically, issues explored include required skills, the interview and relocation processes, and managing graduate school and job responsibilities. More specifically, issues related to required skills, the interview and relocation processes, and managing graduate school and job responsibilities concurrently will be explored.
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A Policy-Based Predoctoral Fellowship Program: The Good, Bad, and In-Between
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| Bianca Montrosse,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,
montrosse@mail.fpg.unc.edu
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Pre- and postdoctoral fellowships are one avenue in which those seeking to expand their repertoire of skills and gain relevant evaluation experiences can pursue. The current paper explores one such opportunity, namely, a year-long predoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After describing the fellowship program, a number of questions are addressed. For example, what was the process of locating the opportunity? What have been positive and challenging experiences within the context of the fellowship? The paper concludes with recommendations for those interested in pursuing similar opportunities.
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Does Size Matter?
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| Daniela C Schroeter,
Western Michigan University,
daniela.schroeter@wmich.edu
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Graduate students commonly juggle coursework with gaining useful practical experience that contributes to the professional development in their careers of interest. Graduate assistantships, internships, and personal projects are viable options, especially if they provide evaluation-specific experience. Saying ôyesö to emerging opportunities can open doors to a variety of evaluative experiences in very different areas including international development evaluations, educational program and policy evaluations, national multi-site evaluations, and community-based evaluations. However, the size of the project influences the nature of the experience, as well as the depth and breath of the competency gained.
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