Helping next year’s committee

Evaluation consists of two equally important parts. You must first gather as much information about all aspects of your week as possible. In order to do this task completely, make sure that you have a method for participant comments after each event. Compile the number of participants who attended each event and the total number who attended during the week, then add comments that were made to staff and presenters during and after events. Make sure that you do a comprehensive written evaluation.

The second part is to make sure that each committee leaves a complete report including all people who were contacted for information and help and a list of people who actually came through and their assigned duties. This is especially important so that next year’s committee has a good base to begin from.

A brief questionnaire completed by attendees at the end of each program, is a relatively easy way to gather useful information. Brainstorm with your chapter members concerning what information would be useful to gather. Another source of information is other campus offices such as residence life and the counseling center. Ask them what information would be helpful for them to know. Also, they might have a useful perspective on what questions should be asked.

Some evaluation data will be collected during the campaign week, and other data cannot be collected until after the completion of the campaign. Be sure you know what data falls into each of these categories. A sample evaluation and questions you may use follow. Remember some events may have to be evaluated simply by attendance numbers. Keep in mind the two purposes of the evaluation: first, to see how you did keeping within the budget, getting numbers of students out, and measuring the impact of your programs; second, put together a complete file of information which tracks your committee’s efforts from beginning to end for future planning committees.