Be ready to get to work - you/your team will be working on your evaluation plan deliverables each day.
Identify the program, initiative, intervention project, or other change effort for which you will develop your evaluation plan. (See next question.) Additionally, if you have any materials related to that endeavor or any existing evaluation efforts, bring them with you (either print or digital).
If you have any questions about what type of effort you should focus on during the retreat, email "WMU Evaluation Center" to schedule a brief meeting for guidance.
The retreat’s content on developing evaluation plans applies to anything your organization is doing to help people, organizations, or communities improve, thrive, or sustain strong performance.
If you can ask questions like these about your endeavor, it’s a good fit for the retreat:
- Is it making a difference?
- What successes should we build on?
- What could we do better?
- It seems like it’s going well (or not so well) - what evidence can we gather to back up (or correct) this hunch?
A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the retreat. If you are interested in getting continuing education credits for attendance, let us know, and we may be able to arrange that.
The retreat will cover the basic evaluation concepts and practices that most experienced evaluators will have already mastered. However, the retreat includes independent work time with individualized feedback and support from the facilitators. Experienced evaluators may appreciate the dedicated time and collegial atmosphere for developing evaluation plans for a specific initiative.
The ideal situation is for program teams and evaluators (or others whose work intersects evaluation, such as grant writers and consultants) to attend the retreat together.
Absolutely! The retreat includes structured time to work on your own materials, along with opportunities to share ideas, challenges, and progress with other participants. The retreat facilitators will provide feedback and guidance to every organization represented at the retreat, regardless of the number of team members in attendance.
Bring a laptop and charging cord. If you like taking handwritten notes, also bring a notebook and writing utensil. We encourage you to bring your own refillable water bottle to reduce waste.
The main retreat activities will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. We will serve a light breakfast daily beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will be a one-hour lunch break at noon and 15-minute breaks each morning and afternoon. With multiple independent work periods built into the schedule, participants will have the flexibility to take additional breaks as needed.
Yes, a light breakfast will be served, and snacks and beverages will be available throughout the day.
All participants will receive a voucher to purchase lunch from the WMU Dining Center or one of the Student Center restaurants.
Wear what you are most comfortable in. Most people will be dressed casually or business casual. Dress in layers to accommodate variations in room temperature.
- The WMU Student Center is ADA-compliant.
- Participants will receive handouts and worksheets in both print and digital form. Printed slides are available upon request.
- Microphones will be used by facilitators and participants during large-group discussions.
Please let us know about any other accommodations that would make your participation more successful.
The closest parking area to the Student Center is the “Hilltop Ramp.” Parking for the event is free. You will receive additional details following registration.
Room 3218 in the Student Center is a designated lactation room.
Yes, the Mosaic Affinity space on the lower level of the Student Center has a prayer/meditation room.