The Hispanic-Serving Institution Center for Evaluation and Research Synthesis (HSI-CERS), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)(award #2311385), builds capacity for HSIs to conduct evaluation and research to strengthen and document the effectiveness of NSF-HSI funded programs.
Established at The Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success at The University of Texas at El Paso, it is the nation's only center of its kind.
The NODE project (Network Opportunities for Developing Equitable and Effective Evaluation) works to develop and share evaluation tools and approaches with the HSI community and synthesize and disseminate exemplary project outcomes and impacts from HSI Program awardees. Two approaches define this work:
In our approach, we recognize commonalities between evaluation and research, mostly in the use of science methods. Although differences between research and evaluation are often over-simplified, we note one key difference, purpose: Program evaluation determines the quality and value of programs and policies, and research develops knowledge through theories and generalizable findings.
NODE enhances evaluation capacity in Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
NODE creates a refined research framework on HSI servingness.