This month, the US Department of Education announced the awardees of the $48 million TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program grant. Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) congratulates the universities, colleges, and corporations across 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that will use these funds to guide and assist adult participants in enrolling in postsecondary education institutions.
Of the 143 institutions to receive funding for their TRIO EOC programs, 35 were awarded for the very first time. First-time recipient, Seminole State College of Florida (SSC), included third party evaluation by IES’s Grant Services team in its proposal. They understand the key to future TRIO EOC awards is a successful first project—and the key to a successful project is an effective third-party evaluation. Our experienced evaluators look forward to performing a formative evaluation, which ensures continuous improvement of their process, and providing input regarding analysis of program outcomes.
While a formative evaluation was the best fit for SSC, other institutions may benefit from a summative evaluation, which provides evidence that their project objectives are being met. Some may require a combination of multiple evaluation services, including input to ensure and demonstrate data quality for the Annual Performance Report (APR).
Even if your institution has already received the TRIO EOC award and is ready to begin helping its participants, it is not too late for you to incorporate a third party evaluation into the project and increase your chances of winning future grants. Our experienced IES Evaluation Team is here to help you achieve your goals of helping others. Contact us today to discuss how we can make your grant program stronger and more competitive.
