Category: Higher Education Projects

Evergreen Solutions was engaged with South Texas College to conduct a comprehensive compensation study. Evergreen designed and assisted with the implementation of a classification and compensation structure for the College’s 733 non-faculty staff. The objective of the study was to optimize recruitment and retention of employees.

Specifically, Evergreen’s consultants reviewed and updated current job descriptions as necessary, and made recommendations for new job descriptions in accordance with the duties each employee actually performed; conducted job evaluations to determine proper classification of a job internally and with the external market; compared non-faculty employee salaries to internal and external market(s) and made recommendations for salary adjustments to assure internal equity and external competitiveness within the relevant labor market; reviewed salary ranges to determine market entry pay levels and maximum salary for each salary range; reviewed pay structure and recommended appropriate reclassification; prepared an analysis that included survey of wages for comparable college and private sector employees; recommended procedures for advancement within and between salary ranges resulting from transfers, career advancements, and/or educational attainment; reviewed current pay structure and developed pay ranges based on job analysis and market reference data; developed definitional guidelines for salary ranges, including hiring and promotion guidelines and salary adjustments due to educational attainment; and made recommendations for guidelines, methodology, and tools for appropriate classification within ranges and develop strategies for maintaining the twin goal of internal equity and market competitiveness over time.

Lone Star College System selected Evergreen Solutions to conduct a comprehensive classification and compensation study to assess both internal and external equity of the college system’s current classification and compensation plan. The study included a review of Lone Star College System’s current compensation and classification philosophy and structure through documents review, interviews, and statistical analysis, as well as used Evergreen’s job evaluation tool to collect information directly from employees. Evergreen then designed and administered a survey for the external market to assess local and regional market conditions. Based on the internal and external analysis, Evergreen recommended adjustments to Lone Star College System’s existing classification and compensation plan.

Evergreen Solutions was retained by Maricopa Community College District to advise their staff on conducting and implementing a compensation and classification study aimed at unifying ten different campus systems. Evergreen staff worked with the compensation committee to design the process, review data, and make recommendations.

Evergreen Solutions was selected by McHenry County College to conduct a comprehensive Employee Classification and Compensation Study for the College’s approximately 299 classified, professional, and administrative positions. The study included the development of a compensation philosophy and a review of salary ranges for these positions. Specifically, Evergreen conducted job evaluations, restructured compensation plans, recommended transition processes between salary ranges, gauged external competitiveness with the surrounding labor market, and developed a maintenance process to ensure sustainability of the competitiveness and equitability of the implemented salary structure.

Initially, Evergreen collected background data from McHenry County College to evaluate the existing compensation and classification structure in place. Information on each of the classifications at the College was also collected from incumbents through the use of Evergreen’s online Job Assessment Tool as well as through focus groups and interviews. Finally, Evergreen collected compensation and classification data from the external labor market for comparison with the College. Evergreen analyzed these data to determine inconsistencies in internal and external compensation between similar classifications as well as determined where compensation practices could be improved. Evergreen then produced a report outlining recommendations to improve the College’s total compensation system.

Evergreen Solutions was selected by the College of Southern Nevada to conduct an exhaustive evaluation of the College’s Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) Grant program. Evergreen’s evaluation acted as an instrument to assure the U.S. Department of Education that the grant goals and objectives set forth by the college were accomplished over the two year grant program. Evergreen completed evaluation activities through a combination of qualitative and quantitative initiatives aimed at gathering data and information to support task completion and compliance.

In the initial project plan, the College outlined several specific criteria as well as several emergency management focused objectives that the program was set out to achieve, and that was subsequently monitored and evaluated by Evergreen. Examples of these criteria included ensuring emergency management and EMHE training multimedia presentations were of high quality; ensuring the number of individuals trained in NIMS courses was sufficient; and evaluated written all-hazard emergency plans to ensure inclusion of elements incorporated the National Incident Management System and Incident Command Systems. As an important component of the EMHE program, Evergreen ensured that collaboration with local first responders and emergency planning organizations was increased during the grant program, and that lessons learned as a result of the grant program were shared with these stakeholders and other institutions of higher education.

During the EMHE evaluation, Evergreen reported project data and analysis as per the U.S. Department of Education requirements under the Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant by working closely with the college’s Emergency Preparedness Manager, and the remainder of the EMHE project team. In addition, Evergreen maintained records and provided related data as well as addressed additional reporting requests and requirements. Evergreen worked to ensure that all involved had an understanding about the evaluation process.

Evergreen Solutions was selected to provide evaluator services to Sullivan County Community College’s (SCCC) Emergency Management for Higher Education grant program. Evergreen evaluators assessed the effectiveness of the grant program in improving and enhancing campus emergency management planning efforts and stakeholder awareness. Additionally, the evaluation determined whether the overall objectives of the grant are being met effectively, with high quality, and in accordance with requirements. The grant evaluator continuously monitored and evaluated the outcomes and effectiveness of this project, including ensuring SCCC is on track in meeting all federal requirements.

There were eight objectives which SCCC strived to realize through the EMHE grant program. These included preparing an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that uses the Incident Command System; improving framework to address the four phases of emergency management; increasing key personnel that are trained in the National Incident Management System; engaging integral local and community partners in the planning process; conducting emergency first responder ‘walk through’ drills and practicum for administration, staff, faculty, and students and first responders; ensuring partner and stakeholder, collaboration and cooperation with the EOP; adhering to Homeland Security Executive Order 489 in the development of the EOP; and ensuring “Green” emergency management planning incorporation is implemented. Evergreen used a combination of qualitative and quantitative review – including benchmarking, surveys, and data analysis – to determine the success of each objective.

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) selected Evergreen Solutions to provide grant evaluator services to determine the effectiveness of each component of their Emergency Management for Higher Education (EMHE) Grant program and to guide plans to improve and sustain grant activities. The goal of the program was to promote and ultimately result in an all-campus system-wide change to emergency response. Over the course of the project, MSSU conducted vulnerability assessments, implemented and improved training initiatives, and enhanced partnerships with local emergency responders. Evergreen ensured accountability for fidelity to the project timeline and the achievement of project objectives.

Specific objectives and goals of the grant program that Evergreen evaluated included initiation of a campus-wide Emergency Management Program; development of an “all-hazard” emergency response and crisis management plan; creation of a comprehensive campus-wide Threat and Vulnerability Assessment program; development of a comprehensive Training and Emergency Exercise program; development of a Crisis Communication Plan; and development of a Continuity of Operations Plan. In addition, MSSU will aim to enhance working relationships with all community partners in order to establish effective lines of communication and efficient operation during emergency situations. To validate and sustain the EMHE program, Evergreen ensured that MSSU successfully developed a proactive maintenance plan for their emergency management program.

Evergreen’s approach began with a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the grant and was designed to systematically evaluate grant activities through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Evergreen ensured that project integrity and compliance was maintained during all grant program initiatives. The focus of the evaluation program was to determine the effectiveness of each component of the EMHE Grant program and to guide plans to improve and sustain the program. At the end of the two year evaluation period, Evergreen produced a comprehensive report which detailed outcomes of the evaluation.

Joliet Junior College retained Evergreen Solutions to evaluate the College’s Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant. The EMHE grant program was designed to develop, or review and improve, and fully integrate campus-based all-hazards emergency management planning efforts. Evergreen conducted an outside evaluation for the College’s Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant over a two-year period to determine whether the overall goals and specific objectives of the grant were being met. The College’s specific EMHE grant program goals were diverse, and included revising and developing emergency management plans, conducting advanced emergency training, and adding emergency response equipment to the College’s inventory.

Evergreen worked closely with the College’s project director to establish effective evaluation criteria and met quarterly throughout the two-year grant period to evaluate progress, aid with grant reporting, and ensure grant goals were being met. Additionally, Evergreen used prior EMHE grant evaluation experience to design and disseminate methods of evaluation appropriate to goals, objectives, and outcomes of grant projects. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and tracked for each of the project’s objectives and measurements through focus groups and interviews with students, staff, and faculty; comprehensive assessments; and instruments designed to evaluate all training including NIMS and other programs. To conclude evaluation activities, Evergreen composed the final summative evaluation at the end of the 24 month grant period.

Evergreen Solutions was retained by Western Washington University as an evaluator to assess the provisions of the Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant. The grant was used to partner with a number of community institutions to review, improve, and enhance campus emergency management planning efforts. In addition, the evaluation determined whether the overall grant goals and specific objectives of the grant were being met effectively, with high quality, and in accordance with requirements.

Specifically, Evergreen analyzed a number of measures the grant program was required to complete against what the grant program actually achieves. This included: ensuring multimedia training presentations were of exceptional quality; evaluating in-class training presentations based on delivery, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness; ensuring that the number of persons trained and number of classes conducted met grant requisites; ensuring that training and exercising plans were both effective-in-practice and sustainable; and ensuring that written all-hazard plans included elements that incorporated National Incident Management Systems and Incident Command Systems.

In addition, Evergreen evaluated outside partnerships developed and leveraged for emergency planning and response. This included evaluating partnering across and between campuses and community partners and analyzing information-sharing with other institutions of higher education to ensure that processes were highly effective. Evergreen worked closely with project stakeholders to evaluate progress and assist project leaders with tracking completion of grant goals.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) and the University of Idaho retained Evergreen Solutions to provide evaluation services of the Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant; increasing Evergreen Solutions’ total number of Emergency Management grant evaluations to five. Our experience with these evaluations allowed us to strengthen our process and effectively apply emergency management best practices to our evaluation methodology. In addition, our unique understanding of desirable program performance and outcome allowed us to provide detailed feedback and direction for all grant program initiatives, while incorporating the needs of the specific educational institution using the grant funds. Evergreen focused on the underlying goal of each Emergency Management Grant program to increase the educational institutions effectiveness in the four components of an effective Emergency Management Plan, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Evergreen’s process included designing and disseminating methods of evaluation, as well as collecting and tracking quantitative and qualitative data for each of the project’s objectives and measurements. Specifically for these evaluations, Evergreen ensured that Emergency Management grant funds increased the number of NIMS compliant employees, collected background data on each University’s current emergency management program as it related to the goals and objectives of the grant, identified current data collection methods and conduct gap analysis, conducted a pre-assessment for the quantitative and qualitative benchmarks to set a starting point to determine where each University stood at the beginning of the evaluation period, developed a sustainable performance measurement system that evaluated each University’s Emergency Management Grant, design and disseminated methods of evaluation appropriate to goals, objectives, and outcomes of the projects, collected and tracked quantitative and qualitative data for each of the project’s objectives and measurements, and conducted a post-assessment for the quantitative benchmarks and qualitative benchmarks to determine where each University stood at the end of the evaluation period. To conclude each evaluation, Evergreen determined whether each University met the qualitative and quantitative benchmarks established at the beginning of the evaluation process and summarized all findings in a final report.