Including an iterative evaluation process is important for all organizations. While most organizations conduct informal evaluations regularly, formalizing the process can improve the collection and triangulation of data. GAPSA, an organization which I have worked extensively this past year, passed the resolution below to accomplish this.
RESOLUTION
Graduate and Professional Student Assembly – University of Minnesota
Date : September 12, 2012
Author: Alfonso Sintjago, Executive Vice President
Topic: Developmental Evaluation of GAPSA
WHEREAS, the mission and the vision of an organization should be clearly operationalized through the activities of an organization; and
WHEREAS, full-time graduate and professional students face competing responsibilities and financial limitations; and
WHEREAS, the continued analysis and observation of organizational activities can facilitate the improvement and adequate functioning of an organization; and
WHEREAS, a developmental and utilization-focus evaluation attempts to “evaluate processes, including asking evaluative questions and applying evaluation logic, to support program, product, staff and/or organizational development;” and
WHEREAS, “the evaluator is part of a team whose members collaborate to conceptualize, design and test new approaches in a long-term, on-going process of continuous improvement, adaptation and intentional change;”
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly will conduct a developmental utility-focused evaluation throughout the 2012-2013 academic year; and
BE IT RESOLVED this internal evaluation will utilize a series of different qualitative methods including the use of focus groups, interviews, data analysis, and surveys to assess its functioning in relationship to student councils; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the evaluation will present a report to the General Assembly during the last meeting of the assembly or before the beginning of the next academic year (2013-2014).
