The Advance Learning Certificate in Program Evaluation is designed to provide theory and relevant practice to build your expertise, effectiveness, and confidence evaluating programs.
Applications of Fall 2024 accepted through August 30th, 2024.
Schedule
September 13 – November 8, 2024
(Class meeting virtually on September 13 & 27, October 11 & 25, November 8)
Online Program: The 9-week sequence includes 5 online class meetings, with approximately 5 hours of self-paced content to complete between the meetings. Class meets by Zoom on alternate Fridays, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (CST)
Program Description
As funders and donors increasingly view their support as an investment, competency in Program Evaluation has become an essential skill within the health and human service organizations. Regular, systematic evaluation helps assure organizations are delivering on their missions and acting as good stewards of donor dollars.
To respond to the increasingly competitive funding landscape, human services organizations must not only measure impact: they need to be able to maximize their impact.
This certificate program will help you align your resources and efforts to the change your organization strives to create. The program design includes lectures, case studies, practice exercises, and readings — all carefully chosen to increase your skills.
By the end of the program, participants will:
- Understand the different evaluation types, approaches, and evaluation competencies, including tenets of culturally responsive evaluation.
- Be able to conduct a stakeholder-driven evaluation planning process and develop a comprehensive evaluation plan.
- Know how to identify and prioritize key evaluation questions and select appropriate methods.
- Understand how to systematically manage quantitative data.
- Have practiced conducting basic data analysis using Excel.
- Understand and have practiced methods for collecting and analyzing qualitative data.
- Learn strategies for translating evaluation findings into compelling data visualizations to enhance strategic learning & utilization.
By the end of the course, all participants will walk away with a plan for evaluating the initiative or program of their choosing.
Instructors
Meihsi Chiang, MSW
Assistant Director (she/her/hers)
- Phone: 314-935-2031
- Email: chiang.m@nospam.wustl.edu
Liz Vestal, MSW, LMSW
Evaluation Manager (they/them/theirs)
- Phone: 314-935-8026
- Email: liz.vestal@nospam.wustl.edu
Meihsi Chiang is the interim Associate Director at the Center. Meihsi is an experienced evaluator with extensive expertise in data visualization. She managers the center’s projects, with a focus on process and outcome evaluation, evaluation capacity, survey design, and data collection and analysis.
Meihsi brings her creativity and passion for data visualization together to develop products and approaches that communicate research data and evaluation findings in meaningful and understandable ways. She also co-manages the center’s brand and visual presence, including website design and marketing materials.
Liz Vestal is the senior manager of evaluation and client services at the Center. Liz is an experienced evaluator with a background in program evaluation and project management. They coordinate the Center’s projects, with a focus on equitable evaluation, evaluation planning and implementation, stakeholder engagement, and using data for the public good. Liz leads the Evaluation Center’s partner engagement efforts to support past, present, and future clients. With a curiosity for quality improvement and a deep commitment to equitable collaboration, Liz is emboldened to work alongside organizations to maximize their impact.
Is This Program for Me?
The program is suitable for individuals involved in program planning or delivery in government, community organizations, or non-profits, including those looking to transition into evaluation or related roles within health and social service fields.
Price & CEU/CPH
$1995*
*See discount information for WashU Faculty/Staff/Student and early registration for all applicants on Brown School Professional Development
Continuing Education Information:
- 45 social work CEUs (20 live, 25 self-study)
- 45 public health CPH units
Learn More & Apply
Learn more and register online through Brown School Professional Development. For questions, please contact us at BrownCertificates@wustl.edu or 314-935-7573
This course will be conducted via a virtual Zoom meeting online format and WashU Extended Learning. Access to a computer/laptop with internet access is required. Please contact Professional Development with any questions.