Undergraduate Evaluation
Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NSF PNW LSAMP)
University of Washington, Washington State University, Boise State University, Portland State University and Oregon State University came together to form the Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PNW LSAMP). The primary goal of the PNW LSAMP is to nearly double the number of STEM bachelor degrees earned by underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors. CWD is currently implementing Phase 1 of the assessment plan which addresses NSF-required data elements. In subsequent years of the grant period, CWD will begin additional assessment activities to monitor the effectiveness of the PNW LSAMP intervention, conduct a peer group analysis, and provide more detailed formative feedback to group.
National Center for Women and Information Technology - Extension Services (NCWIT-ES)
The evaluation of NCWIT Extension Services incorporates both summative and formative evaluation including data collection and analysis for the NCWIT Extension Services metrics. Metrics are collected around awareness of the gender related issues in participating departments, understanding of organizational change, progress in implementing interventions, practices and strategic plans; growth of a social science resource pool in the form of the Extension Service Consultants, and the ultimate goals of increased recruitment and retention of women in computing.
Transforming Engineering through PEERs: Building a Better Experience for Underrepresented Students
PEERS is an institutional transformation project funded by NSF to positively impact the climate of engineering through a cadre of change agents who create and encourage improved and more equitable relationships at the University of Washington. This project works to “fix the system” rather than the typical retention approach of “fixing the student.” In its assessment, CWD will measure the outcomes of this project on the institutional climate of engineering at the UW through undergraduate climate surveys; focus groups with students, faculty, and staff; and analysis of changing demographics in engineering enrollments and degrees.
Northwest Engineering Talent Expansion Partnership (NW-ETEP)/MESA Community College Partnership (MCCP)
CWD participates in the NSF-funded MESA Community College Partnership (formerly Northwest Engineering Talent Expansion Partnership), a joint effort to increase the number of underrepresented minorities and women in engineering. MCCP is composed of Washington State community colleges and universities offering engineering and preparatory degrees, as well as organizations within these institutions that are concerned with diversifying the STEM workforce. The primary goal of MCCP is to promote the participation and retention of underrepresented groups in engineering programs in Washington State. CWD is the internal evaluator of the MCCP grant, assessing MCCP activities at eight post-secondary institutions.
Establishing a Minor in Nanoscale and Molecular Biology (NSF NUE)
In 2009, the National Science Foundation Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) program awarded the University of Washington a grant to support the project NUE NME Minor: Minor in Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering. The main purpose of this grant was to support development of an undergraduate minor in Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering. To measure the impact of lab modules and new course development on students, formative and summative (outcomes) evaluations were conducted to assess and improve the effectiveness of these components of the new NME minor curriculum. Strategies employed included course and lab module assessments and tracking of student interest and intent to minor in NME.
Replicable Model for University Student-Run Outreach Programs
Funded by the Engineering Information Foundation, this newly developed website provided tools and information to establish student-led outreach programs in order to recruit more students into engineering fields. As the evaluator, CWD conducted a short-term outcomes and formative assessment to measure preliminary impact of the program on middle school students. Outcomes examined included changing stereotypes of engineers, new perspectives on the social value of engineering, and increased interest in the engineering profession. In addition, CWD assessed the effectiveness of the web materials.