Center Projects Archive

Project Name (Click Project Name for its home page if available. Click Project Acronym for summary Information.)	Project Description
21st Century Community Learning Centers (KPS)	The 21st Century Learning Community Centers Program, an after school program operated by the Kalamazoo Communities in Schools Foundation in collaboration with the Kalamazoo Public School, seeks to help at-risk students through homework assistance, tutoring, arts and sciences enrichment activities, and drug abuse prevention. The Center is evaluating program implementation and impacts on school climate, academic achievement, and parent and student satisfaction.
21st Century Community Learning Centers (KCSF)	The 21st Century Learning Community Centers Program, an after school program operated by the Kalamazoo Communities in Schools Foundation in collaboration with the Kalamazoo Public School, seeks to help at-risk students through homework assistance, tutoring, arts and sciences enrichment activities, and drug abuse prevention. The Evaluation Center is evaluating program implementation and impacts on school climate, academic achievement, and parent and student satisfaction.
AAAS PROJECT 2061 (AAAS)	This subcontract with the American Association for the Advancement of Science is funded by a continuing grant from the National Science Foundation. AAAS Project 2061 is developing materials that primarily will be disseminated to curriculum developers. The materials are expected to help developers understand and employ better approaches to facilitate student understanding of basic science concepts and help students and teachers see linkages (strands) among the wide array of science/math topics. The evaluation is targeting process and product decisions and will determine if AAAS did the work it proposed to do, if the work was done well, and if the project accomplished the objectives for which it was funded.
Academy for 21st Century Teaching (ACT II)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency's statewide technology project, Academy for 21st Century Teaching, which is providing technology integration training and support to teachers and media and technology specialists at 40 Title I school districts in Michigan. The evaluation provides formative and summative feedback for project improvement.
Academy for 21st Century Teaching Project (ACT)	The Evaluation Center evaluated WCRESA's statewide technology literacy project, Academy for 21st Century Teaching, which provided technology integration training and support to teachers at 16 nonaccredited schools in Michigan. The evaluation provided formative and summative feedback for project improvement.
AccessMichigan (ACCESS)	AccessMichigan is a collaborative project of Michigan libraries to create a digital information environment that will offer every resident of the state equitable and easy-to-use access to a core set of information sources. A Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grant from the Michigan Department of Education was used by AccessMichigan to purchase three full-text databases for K-9 students. The Evaluation Center is evaluating the K-9 database project through a survey of personnel at public libraries and school library media centers and case studies of six school library media centers.
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)	The Evaluation Center is assessing the impact and effectiveness of the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. In addition to answering summative evaluation questions, the project will develop a framework and working tools to guide and assist projects, centers, and technological educators in their future efforts to collect, report, and use evaluative information.
AEA Birth Story (AEAB)	Evaluation Center staff and Interdisciplinary Evaluation graduate students are writing the Story of the Birth of the American Evaluation Association.
AEA Public Policy Program (AEA)	The Evaluation Center is assisting the American Evaluation Association to develop a public policy program.
Altarum Institute (AI)	The Evaluation Center was engaged as a subcontractor to The Altarum Institute to assist in their evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration's Confidential Close Call Reporting System. The initial phase of this work, completed in February 2006, entailed compiling an extensive literature review related to existing systems, analytical processes, team operations, and safety culture, among other topics. Subsequent phases are expected to entail instrument development, baseline data collection, ongoing data collection, and reporting.
Altarum/FRA (ALT)	The Evaluation Center is engaged as a subcontractor to The Altarum Institute to assist in their evaluation of the Federal Railroad Administration's Confidential Close Call Reporting System. The initial phase of this work, completed in February 2006, entailed compiling an extensive literature review related to existing systems, analytical processes, team operations, and safety culture, among other topics. Subsequent phases are expected to entail instrument development, baseline data collection, ongoing data collection, and reporting.
Appalachia Educational Laboratory (AEL)	This external evaluation is addressing AEL's evaluation needs; exploring the impact AEL is having in its region; assessing the quality of services and the extent to which needs are being served, as perceived by constituents; and conducting a metaevaluation of the evaluation activities implemented by AEL.
Assessment for Learning Research Scholars: Capacity Building in Mathematics and Science Education (CAPBLD)	This capacity-building project expands on research in assessment for learning, or “the process of seeking and interpreting evidence for use by learners and their teachers to decide where the learners are in their learning, where they need to go and how best to get there” (Assessment Reform Group, 2002).
ATE Survey 2007-08 (ATE07)	The project annually will conduct a census survey of ATE principal investigators who have received funding for at least one year prior to the survey. This survey in conjunction with information gathered by other ATE targeted studies is used to address four basic questions important to ATE and its stakeholders.
Best Practices of Technology Integration (GLENII)	Best Practices of Technology Integration is a statewide technology literacy challenge project funded by the Michigan Department of Education. The Evaluation Center is conducting the evaluation of this 9-month project, which seeks to assist educators as they integrate technology into curriculum.
Botswana AIDS Epidemic Study (UNDP)	The Evaluation Center is developing a plan for a two-part study of the AIDS epidemic in Botswana for the United Nations Development Program. First, a plan is being developed for an impact study that will critically assess the demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, and normative impact of HIV and AIDS in Botswana, especially with regard to how communities and households are responding to the effects of epidemic. Second, a plan will be developed for a validation study, which will examine to what extent data collected about pregnant women through the National Sentinel Surveillance system are representative of the population. During a site visit to Botswana, stakeholders were interviewed, documents were collected, and direct observations were made. With these data, design protocols for the impact and validation studies are being developed.
Buprenorphine Treatment in Jail and Post-Release (BTJP)	The Evaluation Center is responsible for overall scientific integrity and direction of the study. During the next phase, Dr. Magura will specifically direct the development of statistical analytical plans, the statistical analysis of the data, writing of articles for publication, and the preparation of the final report to NIDA.
Calhoun County Non-Profit Capacity Building (CALH)	Faculty from Western Michigan University are working with nonprofit community agencies in Calhoun County, Michigan, to strengthen their management, including evaluation. Evaluation Center staff are assisting nonprofits in identifying and measuring the outcomes of their programs and services. This project is supported by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Youth Initiative Partnership.
California State University Charter School of Education (CAL ST)	The Evaluation Center is conducting an external evaluation of the Charter School of Education (CSOE) at California State University, the nation's first and only charter school of education. The evaluation is designed to provide an external analysis of CSOE's progress in meeting its goals and to inform decisions regarding continuation or institutionalization of the charter.
CDC-SWAT (SWAT)	This project is examining the development of a new methodology called SWAT--Swift Worksite Assessment and Translation. The method is intended as a middle ground evaluation strategy with the aim of identifying worksites with promising practices. The Evaluation Center, in collaboration with Frances Lawrenz at the University of Minnesota, is providing formative evaluation for the methdology development and will conduct a summative evaluation of the methdology following the current study being implemented by RTI and CDC to test the efficacy of SWAT.
Charter School Student Achievement in the Great Lakes Region (ACH)	This project will involve the secondary analysis of student achievement data for charter schools in each of the states within the Great Lakes Region.
Charter School Teacher Attrition in the Great Lakes Region (ATT)	The project will examine reasons for teacher attrition in charter schools. Data from state evaluations will be mined for this study.
Cleveland Charter Schools (CLCHRT)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating four charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio, and addressing a variety of research questions related to the charter schools as well as their impact on local public schools and local communities. As part of the project, Center staff are providing technical assistance to strengthen the accountability plans of the participating charter schools and to develop their capacity to use evaluation to improve their operation and instruction.
Comprehensive Assessment of School Environments (CASE)	The Evaluation Center provides scoring and related consultant services for the National Association of Secondary School Principals' (NASSP) Comprehensive Assessment of School Environment (CASE) battery of instruments, which assess relationships between school inputs and student outcomes, and for the CASE Information Management System, which provides analysis of school effectiveness and efficiency and includes possible interventions for school improvement.
Connecticut Charter Schools (CTCHRT)	The Evaluation Center is conducting an evaluation of individual charter schools and the charter school initiative in Connecticut for the Connecticut Department of Education. During the 5-year evaluation, the Center will (a) conduct impact and process evaluations with indicators common to all the Connecticut charter schools; (b) assist each charter school to identify indicators unique to its specific goals and mission; (c) provide technical assistance to the charter schools in developing a system for annually collecting and reporting data pertinent to their local evaluation models; and (d) serve as a resource for measurement, evaluation, and decision-making issues.
Consuelo - Hawaii (CON-HI)	The Consuelo Foundation seeks to assist "hidden homeless" families in Hawaii to realize The American Dream of home ownership through a comprehensive self-help housing and community development project. Selected families invest approximately 800 hours of sweat equity building an increment of 6 to 9 houses. Participants also make a commitment to adhere to a set of values embraced by the Foundation. The Evaluation Center is conducting a 7-year longitudinal study of the project, offering formative and summative feedback for program improvement. The Foundation also expects that the Center's work will contribute to the process of program duplication in other contexts.
Consuelo - Hawaii (ALGERH)	The Evaluation Center is conducting a 7-year longitudinal study of the Foundation's comprehensive self-help housing and community development project in Waianae, Hawaii. The evaluation will provide formative and summative feedback for program improvement. The Foundation also expects that the Center's work will contribute to the process of program duplication in other contexts.
Consuelo - Philippines (PHILIP)	The Evaluation Center is conducting the external evaluation of the Foundation's housing initiatives in Dumaguete and San Carlos City in the Philippines. The objectives of the evaluation are to (a) evaluate the designated community development projects in the two cities; (b) develop a generic evaluation approach for the Consuelo Foundation–Philippine Branch; and (c) provide training, consultation, and evaluation materials to enhance the evaluation capacity of the Foundation staff and collaborating agencies.
Controlled Trial of Self-Help for Dually Diagnosed Persons (CTSDDP)	The Evaluation Center is responsible for overall scientific integrity and direction of the study. During the NCE, Dr. Magura will direct the development of statistical analytical plans, the statistical analysis of the data, writing of articles for publication, and the preparation of the final report to NIDA.
Delaware Charter Schools (DCS)	The Evaluation Center is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the charter school initiative in Delaware. The critical questions to be addressed concern impact, innovation, comparison with public schools, relationships between schools and authorizers, management structure, factors linked to success in achieving school mission and improving learning, and how best to strengthen the initiative.
Detroit Public Television (DPTV)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating The Enrichment Channel project, which is funded by a technology innovation challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Enrichment Channel's primary purpose is to provide students, teachers, and families in southeastern Michigan with a unique arts and culture educational resource that can deliver multimedia instructional programs, community-based resource materials, and professional development experiences directly to classrooms and homes. The evaluation is providing both formative and summative feedback to ensure that project activities and products are keyed to the needs of educators and students, to describe the process and products associated with the project, and to assess the project's overall merit and worth.
Education for the Arts (EFA)	Dr. Michael Scriven is the principal investigator for the evaluation of Education for the Arts, a Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency program funded by the Gilmore Foundation intended to enhance K-12 arts education throughout Kalamazoo County. Dr. Robert Stake, a leading evaluator and author of a book on evaluating arts programs in the schools, has contributed significantly to the evaluation.
Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating the work of EETAP, a comprehensive collaborative of more than 12 professional organizations and agencies in the field of environmental education. EETAP seeks to advance knowledge and understanding of environmental education, developing synergistic activities among partners, and focusing attention on traditionally underserved educators and students in environmental education.
Evaluation of the Edison Project (NEA)	The Evaluation Center is examining the impact of The Edison Project schools on student learning. The Edison Project, one of the largest educational management organizations that operates public schools in the U.S., manages 51 contract and charter schools in 12 states. The study is focusing on 12 schools that have been operated by The Edison Project for at least 3 years. Center researchers are evaluating existing research and evaluation on the impact of Edison schools, comparing student achievement at Edison schools with state and national norms and local district schools, and developing and analyzing case studies for each of the 12 Edison schools being examined.
Evaluation Plan for the High Expectations-High Standards GOALS 2000 Project (GOALS)
Even Start (ES)	forthcoming
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA 2)
Food Resources Bank (FRB)	Foods Resources Bank (FRB) is a nongovernmental organization that describes itself as a "Christian Response to World Hunger." FRB is dedicated to helping reduce hunger in the developing world through small-scale agricultural production leading to sustainable food security. The bulk of the funds managed by FRB come from church-connected community growing projects (coalitions of people growing a crop to be monetized and donated to FRB). The FRB evaluation will provide quality data on the organization’s operations and results. FRB hopes to use the evaluation to assist the organization in developing its strategic plan. The evaluation will focus on three core components of FRB: (1) growing projects, (2) overseas programs, and (3) administration and fund-raising.
FRA--Behavior-Based Safety (FRA 3)	Evaluating the Prospective Success of Behavior-Based Safety Strategies in the Rail Industry: Evaluation activities in this project seek to provide analytical support to the FRA in assessing its current and future investments in behavior-based safety (BBS) interventions. Specific activities include needs assessment, reanalysis of extant impact data, evaluation of rival BBS approaches, and formative and summative metaevaluation.
German Logic Model (GERLOG)	The purpose of this project is to research and evaluate available written materials and computer programs to develop logic models.
GISD Technology Literacy Grant (TECHLT)
Healthier Communities (HC)	forthcoming
Heifer III (HPI3)	Since 2005, The Evaluation Center has been working with Heifer International to evaluate its projects across the globe. Most recently, Center staff and graduate students visited projects in Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, and China. This follows previous work in the U.S., Peru, Thailand, Nepal, and Albania. A specific evaluation approach has been devised, the Heifer Hoofprint Model, that responds to Heifer’s main interest in assessing the impact of its programming on the lives of project recipients and provides a comprehensive assessment of the merit, worth, and significance of Heifer’s work.
Heifer Learning Centers (HLC)	Using the Key Evaluation Checklist as a framework to design and implement this study, the evaluation will provide a complete assessment of the impact and quality of the learning centers' general programming and two special programs targeting adults.
High Scope (HS)	Helping Schools Get Ready for All Children (Ready Schools) Project – A three-year project funded by the Kellogg Foundation and implemented through the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation. The project’s principal goals are to create a Ready School Assessment and Improvement Plan, to pilot test the Ready School Assessment, to provide technical assistance and training to pilot test schools, and to provide public communication and widespread dissemination of the Ready School Assessment. Evaluators will provide formative and summative evaluation through the instrument development process, pilot testing, and validation process.
Illinois Charter Schools (ISBE)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating the effectiveness of charter shools in Illinois for the Illinois State Board of Education.
Kalamazoo Nonprofit Capacity Coalition (NPCC)	The Evaluation Center is coordinating an effort to help nonprofit organizations in Kalamazoo County increase their capacity to accomplish their missions and to provide service, thereby strengthening the community. The four-month project will (1) develop a long term structure for serving the nonprofit needs of the county and establishing linkages with nonprofit support organizations within and outside the region; and (2) plan a year-long series of events, including a kickoff conference, promotional events, and a series of workshops. Two task forces will be formed to accomplish these tasks.
Kalamazoo Promise (KPRO)	Funding from the U.S. Department of Education is enabling The Evaluation Center to form a three-way partnership to study the impact of the Kalamazoo Promise. The partnership between WMU, Kalamazoo Public Schools, and the W.E. Upjohn Institute seeks to assess the short-term and intermediate outcomes of the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship program announced in November 2005 that provides up to four years of tuition and fees at any two-year or four-year public college or university in Michigan for students who graduated from Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Kalamazoo United Way (KUW)	This project produced an evaluation manual to be used within the Greater Kalamazoo community as a guide for using evaluation in community organizations. A newsletter and technical assistance in evaluation is also being provided to community nonprofit organizations to enable them to develop their evaluation capacity.
Kamehaha Schools Preschool & Beyond (KSPABS)	Kamehameha Schools' Preschool and Beyond Study (PABS) is a longitudinal study that follows a cohort of children as they move through preschool and into elementary school. The Evaluation Center, in collaboration with the Compass Consulting Group, is responsible for analyzing and reporting these data.
Kamehameha Schools' Extension Education (KSEED)	The Evaluation Center is planning assessment and monitoring activities for eight separate extension education programs for Kamehameha in Hawaii. At the end of the project we will deliver plans for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the programs, including a database to assist program officers in this task. We will also submit an evaluation report that covers those eight programs.
Kamehameha Schools Pauahi Keiki Scholars Program (KSPKS)	Pauahi Keiki Scholars Program is a voucher program for preschool students of Hawaiian descent. The Center is conducting a formative and summative evaluation of this reform program.
Kamehameha Schools' Preschool Education Programs (KSECE)	The Evaluation Center is planning a pilot study and evaluation for the Kamehameha Schools Preschool Program. Additional tasks include a review of current assessment and accountability activities. At the close of the project we will have a detailed evaluation plan and an expanded database in place to assist program staff in conducted a larger scale evaluation of the entire program.
Kellogg Summer Institute (SI)	The Kellogg Summer Institute in Evaluation fosters the development of evaluation expertise in Latin America through the training of a group of professionals affiliated with institutions that have the potential to establish education programs in evaluation in Latin America.
Kellogg-Development of Personnel Evaluation Standards (JC PES)	The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation is revising The Personnel Evaluation Standards.
Kellogg-Development of Student Evaluation Standards (JC SES)	The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation is developing standards for evaluations of students.
KS-Anina Ulu Intitiative (KSAUI)	forthcoming
KS-E Ola Pono (KSEOP)	This is a curriculum evaluation of a middle school health curriculum.
KS-FADC (KSFADC)	Technical ssistance and evaluation of the Kamehameha Schools' FADC post-high school scholarship program.
KS-Hi'ilani Program (KSHP)	forthcoming
KS-Ho'olako Like Schools (KSHLS)	forthcoming
KS-Literacy Enhancement (KSLE)	The Center is evaluating a literacy program based in traditional public schools.
KS-Service Learning Program (KSSLP)	The Center's work with this project focuses on building an accountability system for a large scale service learning initiative that is currently in the planning phase.
KS-Successful Schools for Hawaiians Study (KSSSH)	This is an evaluation to determine in which public schools native Hawaiian students exhibit the highest achievement levels.
KS-Summer School Evaluation (KSSSE)	This evaluation of summer school programs on the Big Island and Maui will involve surveys of key stakeholders and assess impact on student achievement.
Long-Term Care Screening Tool Evaluation (LTC)	This is a collaborative project being conducted for the Michigan Department of Community Health by the College of Health & Human Services and The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University and The Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University. The purpose of the project is to evaluate, improve, and validate the State of Michigan's Long-Term Care Functional/Medical Eligibility Screening Tool.
Materials Development, Training, and Support Services (MTS)	This project, developed and conducted by The Evaluation Center, is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. It objectives are to enhance evaluation capacity in the science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education communities through materials development, training, and support services. An additional goal is to train NSF intern evaluators to directly assist the evaluation needs of other NSF projects and to gather information and materials about current science and math evaluation efforts.
Michigan Charter Schools (MICHRT)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating the public school academy/charter school initiative in the state of Michigan to determine whether the charter school initiative is fulfilling its intended purposes.
Michigan Charter Schools (MICHRT)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating the public school academy/charter school initiative in the state of Michigan to determine whether the charter school initiative is fulfilling its intended purposes.
Michigan Department of Community Health (GAMBLG)	The Evaluation Center, in collaboration with the WMU Kercher Center for Social Research, is conducting a study of compulsive gambling in Michigan. The study, which is a partial replication of a study completed in June 1997, is designed to determine (1) the extent of gambling addiction among Michigan citizens as concerns both legal and illegal gambling, and (2) the incidence of different forms of gambling for persons 18 and older, including lottery, race tracks, and casinos. Data for this study will be collected through a telephone survey of 1,600 adults across the state of Michigan.
Michigan Department of Education (MDE)	The Evaluation Center is revising the Michigan Department of Education's Technology Literacy Challenge Fund RFP materials. The revision is based on input from a stakeholder group and collaboration with representatives from MDE. The purpose is to simplify and streamline the grant application process.
Milwaukee Math Partnership (MMP)	The MMP is one of approximately 30 Math Science Partnerships funded by the National Science Foundation. MMP, specifically, is a 5 year, $20 million effort to improve mathematics teaching and learning in the Milwaukee K-20 education system. The Evaluation Center has been engaged to prepare an external evaluaiton plan for years 3-5 of the project. The plan calls for Evaluation Center staff to work in conjunction with the MMPs internal evaluator and to cooridnate a series of targeted studies designed to examine specific elements of the MMP's activities.
NASA Education Services Program (NASA)	The Evaluation Center was contracted by Oklahoma State University to conduct a third party evaluation of the NASA Aerospace Education Services Program (AESP) based at OSU. AESP has been managed and directed by the Oklahoma State University Education and Research Foundation for 27 of the last 32 years and continuously since 1979. AESP is the outreach arm of the NASA Education Division; the program's main purpose is to support NASA's policy to use its unique and multiple assets to support local, regional, and national science, mathematics, engineering, technology, and geography education efforts through collaboration with external and internal stakeholders in the 50 U.S. states and territories. The Evaluation Center is evaluating the program's goals, structure, and process.
No Disposable Kids (NDK)	The No Disposable Kids program is an effort being implemented by Starr Commonwealthat six Kalamazoo Public Schools to improve relationships among staff and students and reduce racism and bullying. The Center is evaluating program implementation and impacts on school climate, student behavior, and teacher perceptions.
Oral Health Evaluation Plan (OHEP)	Michigan’s Department of Community Health requested that the Center develop a comprehensive evaluation plan for its oral health program. The Department of Community Health provides technical assistance to local health departments and community agencies and coordinates statewide programming around oral health issues such as water fluoridation, tobacco cessation, school-based dental programs, and dental care for nursing home residents.
Parental Information and Resource Center (PIRC)	forthcoming
ParentCONNECT (PC)	Evaluation of the Parental Information and Resource Center.
Partnership for Comprehensive Equity (MTPACE)	The University of Montana's Partnership for Comprehensive Equity (PACE) is an alliance of central administrators, deans, department heads/chairs, and faculty to bring about lasting change in the status and role of women faculty in science and mathematics. The Evaluation Center is evaluating the effort, focusing on the extent to which the project's objectives have been met.
Pennsylvania Charter Schools (PA CHT)	The Pennsylvania Department of Education commissioned The Evaluation Center to evaluate the charter schools and the charter school initiative in Pennsylvania.
Rural Systemic Initiative (RSI)	The Evaluation Center is evaluating the National Science Foundation's Rural Systemic Initiative program, which seeks to stimulate systemwide educational reform of science, mathematics, and technology in rural, economically disadvantaged regions of the nation. The evaluation will operationalize and validate the drivers of educational systemic reform identified by NSF, show how context influences the indicator systems, and suggest how modifications taking contextual factors into account can make the RSI program successful.
SERVE (SERVE)	External evaluation of SERVE efforts for its region.
SERVE (SERVE3)	External evaluation of SERVE efforts for its region.
Strategic Planning and Implementation, Research and Evaluation (SPIRE)	For Kamehameha Schools strategic planning and implementation office, we will conduct data entry and analyses of work sampling system and parent and student satisfaction surveys and analyze financial aid scenarios for calculating need for financial aid.
Success in American Charter Schools (SUCCESS)	Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, this project explores the correlates of success in American charter schools and is attempting to provide a research base for improvement. According to their proponents, charter schools are to be public education's "R&D" sector; but there are few clear, systematic, and widely agreed upon lessons about the determinants of success in charter schools. This study seeks to provide a rigorous, research-based foundation for those who seek to improve charter school performance by systematically testing a number of explanations for variations in charter school quality, as measured by student achievement; customer satisfaction; and equity. Project staff analyze extensive national- and state-level quantitative data sets as well as qualitative data from four statewide charter school evaluations.
Target Plus (TGT)
Tsunami Hazards (TSU)	Building on similar studies conducted in Washington, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Thailand, this study is examining factors that influence people to prepare, or sometimes not prepare, for tsunamis. It also seeks to understand the complexity of factors that influence people’s responses to different warnings of tsunamis. The project team consists of researchers from universities in the US, New Zealand, and Australia. Study sites include communities in 7 states and territories (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii) in 2006 and again in 2007. In each community, we are collecting information with questionnaires that ask residents about their experiences and attitudes with regard to tsunamis. The questionnaire also asks about people’s knowledge of tsunamis and any preparations that they and their family have made to respond to warnings of tsunamis. Ultimately, findings will be used to inform policy decisions and develop and assess education and awareness programs for tsunami hazard mitigation.
U.S. Department of Transportation (FRA)
UNICEF ESARO (SCI)	The Sara Communications Initiative of UNICEF seeks to promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child human rights treaty and support its implementation and realization in Africa. Sara is a cartoon character created by UNICEF who represents the typical adolescent African girl. Sara is featured in videotapes, comic books, posters, and radio programs to teach girls about issues that impact their quality of life, including education, sexual abuse, and HIV/AIDS. The Evaluation Center was contracted by UNICEF to evaluate the initiative. The three components of the evaluation included an implementation study, an outcomes study, and an impact study. The Center collaborated with national research organizations in Africa.
Whirlpool (WRPL)	In this project, we are conducting a series of focus groups and interviews to identify the key drivers of employee engagement (1) to their work and (2) to Whirlpool's strategy of building unmatched customer loyalty. The findings will be used to identify action items and to develop an employee survey that will track engagement as part of Whirlpool's ongoing Balanced Scorecard initiative.

Project Directory: Information about the Center's current projects.