234: Pathway to Ph.D. Program: Enhancing Evaluation Usability Through Client Engagement to Increase Participation

This poster session explores strategies for evaluators to effectively engage clients in improving the usability of evaluation reports for programs aimed at expanding access to higher education, particularly PhD programs. The Pathway to Ph.D. Program (PPP), a unique component of an NSF-funded center, offers mentoring and information on PhD application processes to students interested in pursuing PhDs in engineering, agricultural science, and related fields. In this discussion, we will highlight methods we use to enhance client engagement, ensuring that evaluation findings are actionable and impactful. Additionally, we will explore innovative approaches to strengthen the usage of subsequent evaluation reports. Some of the topics covered include: How can external evaluators influence program growth and adaptation to broaden participation? What tools or methods could improve the usability of evaluation reports? How can evaluators ensure that recommendations are not just shared but actively implemented by program leaders?

Mohammed Ibrahim – Arizona State University; Ashley Coughlin