Past Projects

  • Iowa STEM Education Evaluation (I-SEE)

    RISE is responsible for conducting a process evaluation that examines resources, needs, facilitating conditions, and barriers to the development and growth of the Iowa statewide STEM initiative.

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  • Iowa’s Information Technology, Healthcare, Utilities, and Manufacturing (IHUM) – Hawkeye Community College

    RISE serves as the external evaluator on the IHUM project. The evaluation of the IHUM project assesses program benefits, strengths, and challenges in implementing the project at each participating community college. In addition, will examine the extent to which participation in the IHUM Program impacts labor force outcomes for participants (e.g., wages, jobs) as well…

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  • Iowa’s Symbi GK-12 Project

    The Symbi evaluation addresses critical questions at the intersection of graduate research in biorenewable chemicals, communication of science topics to non-technical audiences, and middle school STEM education in Iowa.

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  • ISU College of Engineering Climate Study

    Brandi Geisinger and Mari Kemis are working with the ISU College of Engineering to evaluate the climate of the college for a diverse body of undergraduate students. RISE compiled a survey instrument informed by the scientific literature (e.g., Rankin & Reason, 2008) and designed to meet the specific needs of the college. Focus groups are…

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  • ISU College of Engineering Workplace Competencies Survey

    The College of Engineering and Engineering Career Services (ECS) hired RISE in 2023 to construct a new workplace competencies survey which aligned with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology student learning outcomes. RISE held multiple focus groups with ISU engineering students, ISU engineering faculty, and employers of ISU students, then used this data to…

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  • ISU Department Enhancement Program

    The DEP formed as a result of ADVANCE, an NSF funded program designed to help to recruit and retain a diverse, highly qualified and cohesive faculty body. The ISU DEP conducts focus groups and interviews to elicit information about the cultures of specific departments on campus and compiles reports outlining common themes and findings in…

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  • ISU Department of Agronomy: Curriculum Assessment and Outcomes Alignment Study

    The ISU Department of Agronomy partnered with RISE between 2017 and 2022 to study the department’s curriculum. There were two high level goals of the study. The first, referred to in the report as phase 1, was to establish a set of measurable program objectives and outcomes that were faculty developed; that supported the incorporation…

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  • Juvenile Justice Reentry Project Evaluation

    The Juvenile Reentry System (JReS) effort is a multi-faceted initiative led by the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP), the Iowa Department of Human Rights. It is funded by the U.S Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The aim is to reduce recidivism of youth returning from out-of-home residential…

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  • Meta!Blast: A Cell and Metabolic Adventure

    RISE oversees the development and implementation of assessment activities for Meta!Blast, a 3D interactive module for cell and metabolic biology.

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  • Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Genomics (MBBG) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

    Brandi Geisinger and Mari Kemis are leading the evaluation of the Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Genomics (MBBG) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program at Iowa State University.

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