November 7, 2002

Institutional Effectiveness Information
Park Scholarships

The Park Scholarships program receives over $4,000,000 annually from the Park Foundation to recruit and enroll some of the most promising young leaders in our state and nation.  Our emphasis is to develop fully the qualities of emerging leadership and civic responsibility among our Scholars.  Thus an assessment and evaluation component is central to our work and a regular part of our operating procedure. The work of the Park Scholarships program falls into two areas: 1) recruiting/selection and 2) support of academic enhancement activities for current Scholars.  Assessment efforts are therefore categorized below along those two dimensions.

The Park Scholarships staff also engages in planning and assessment as each staff member develops a yearly plan of work with goals, objectives, and key dates.  We work with a Park Scholarships Program Review & Development (PPRD) team led by faculty from the Department of Psychology that assists with evaluation efforts. For example, the PPRD team assists with and assesses the program's fall retreat for new Park Scholars and associated workshops for upper-class Park Scholars who serve as retreat facilitators.

Recruiting / Selection

Park Scholarships staff work with the PPRD team to assess our selection and recruiting efforts.  Recruiting success is benchmarked each year (e.g. number of applicants, selected, yield) and is compared with locations of our recruiting efforts, e.g. receptions, information sessions. 

The PPRD team also completed a survey of our Selection Committee volunteers in the summer of 2002. Based on that information we are implementing modest changes in our briefing process, number of applicants reviewed per committee member and so forth. In previous years we have used survey and anecdotal feedback to improve our rating sheets the Selection Committee members use to evaluate candidates. Candidates and their families are also provided with an anonymous survey to assess their experience when they are on campus for finalist interview activities.  We use that information to plan for the next year's activities and make improvements where needed.  Our annual report to the Park Foundation reviews this information. A copy of the most recent report is available for review.

Academic Enrichment for Current Students

The Park Scholarships emphasize scholarship, leadership, service and character.  Thus, assessments of current students focus on these areas and we encourage Scholars to engage in regular self-assessment.

We are developing explicit achievement criteria by which we will evaluate the student and program success.  Last year we detailed our selection criteria and we are working to expand that for current student achievements.

There is an online community for the Scholars that is password protected and available to Park Scholars, Park Scholarships staff, and associated faculty.  Much of the 'business' of the program is conducted there. For example, the Scholars are required to complete a Plan of Professional Development each semester.  A sample plan is available for review.  This evaluation component is a self-assessment that is conducted with a faculty member and also reviewed by a Park Scholarships staff member.  All major group activities, e.g. trips, retreats, are reviewed with a survey and focus groups. Summary reports for this information are available upon request. As a part of the senior retreat the students also meet and provide feedback to the program director about the Park Scholarships experience.  There is an Advisory Committee that meets three times a year.  This body assists in the director in reviewing the success of the program as well.  The director prepares the annual report for the Park Foundation that reviews and assesses the program activities, including selection activities.  This provides a year to year baseline of success and progress.