Category: Higher Education Projects

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.

Tarrant County College, the sixth largest in Texas among community colleges and universities, retained Evergreen Solutions to conduct a comprehensive compensation and classification study to determine whether the College possessed a system that was both equitable when compared to the external competitive employment market as well as equitable internally. Evergreen Solutions worked collaboratively with the College to make sound, implementation-focused recommendations.

Evergreen’s methodology focused on market competitiveness and was based on the College’s compensation philosophy that was linked to the College’s mission and strategic plan. The methodology recognized that compensation was comprised of more than just base pay levels. Specifically, the study included a complete classification analysis using the Job Assessment Tool job valuation methodology as well as a statistical assessment of internal conditions and an assessment of external equity including a salary survey of competing organizations. The study identified findings and recommendations that were designed to alleviate any strains on the system and, if necessary, redesign or augment the existing system in place at Tarrant County College.

In February 2010, Broward College contracted Evergreen Solutions to evaluate an Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant. As part of the evaluation, Evergreen Solutions assessed four areas of Broward College’s emergency management plan, including prevention migration, preparedness, response, and recovery. Additionally, the evaluation included developing a sustainable performance measurement system that evaluated the college’s early warning program. Evergreen Solutions designed and disseminated methods of evaluation appropriate to goals, objectives, and outcomes of the project.

Evergreen Solutions used a methodology that included collecting and tracking quantitative and qualitative data for each of the project’s objectives and measurements. Specifically, this included: designing evaluation instruments (surveys, questionnaires, evaluations, and other necessary and appropriate forms); developing specialized tracking systems to measure performance objectives and to assess whether intended outcomes were realized; and conducting focus groups and interviews with students, staff, and faculty. The evaluation also assessed overall efficiency and effectiveness of the training, practice drills, and after-action reports associated with the emergency management plan. In addition, the emergency communication systems was also assessed during the evaluation.

Pulaski Technical College is the largest and fastest growing comprehensive community college in Arkansas, with eight locations in the most populated metropolitan regions. The college contracted with Evergreen Solutions to evaluate an Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant. The grant was designed to constitute a coherent, sustained program of training in the field of emergency management, including conducting training and exercises in emergency management procedures. Aside from increasing awareness among college faculty, staff, and students regarding emergency management policies and procedures, the grant was aimed at improving partnerships between community partners and campus leaders.

Evergreen Solutions assessed the overall effectiveness of the grant utilizing a customized work plan designed to evaluate Pulaski Technical College’s specific objectives. The work plan evaluated the grants success with increasing the number of emergency management courses attended by campus personnel as well as with supplementing the college’s current emergency preparedness plan with additional exercises. Furthermore, a Crisis Intervention Plan and a Health Emergency Plan established by the grant was assessed by Evergreen Solutions during the evaluation.

In February 2008, Evergreen Solutions kicked off a Comprehensive Market Salary Survey and Compensation Plan Study for all non-faculty jobs at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. Evergreen Solutions consultants worked with the University’s Salary Review and Compensation Committee to select benchmark job titles and market peer organizations to survey. Market comparisons were made at the local, regional, state, and national levels. Once data was collected using the survey tool, Evergreen Solutions provided detailed and comprehensive recommendations for revision and update the University’s pay plans, including projected costs for implementation. Finally, Evergreen Solutions staff provided compensation administration guidelines for continued administration of the updated pay plans. Missouri Western State University is a four-year, state-supported institution providing undergraduate and graduate programs through the colleges of liberal arts and professional studies. In addition, the University offers continuing education courses, seminars, conferences, and workshops suited to the needs of the community and serving groups throughout the nation.

In July 2009, St. Thomas University selected Evergreen Solutions to evaluate an Emergency Management for Higher Education Grant. The purpose of the grant was to fund higher education institution projects with the purpose to develop, review, improve, and fully integrate all campus-based emergency management planning efforts. With the 18-month federal grant, a Campus Community Emergency Planning for Safety (C-CEPS) Consortium was created in cooperation with neighboring institutions Barry University and Florida Memorial. The consortium participated in the development of college-wide and campus-based emergency management plans and training programs.

In order to ensure the overall goals and specific objectives of the grant were being met, Evergreen Solutions established a customized work plan to evaluate the execution of the grant. These tasks focused on addressing St. Thomas University’s objectives including developing emergency management and preparedness materials based on best practices, increasing overall awareness of hazards and emergency procedures, and training University faculty, staff, and students to be more efficient and effective in emergency procedures.