Program Evaluation & Applied Research

Context-Driven, Actionable Evaluation

GSH Education Group takes a context-driven approach to understand your organization and stakeholders, developing appropriate and actionable evaluation plans that answer the questions that matter most to your institution.

Whether you need to assess program effectiveness, demonstrate outcomes for grant reporting, inform strategic decisions about your program portfolio, or simply understand what's working and what isn't—our evaluation services provide the rigorous analysis and clear insights you need.

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Our Evaluation Approach

Collaborative Planning

We begin by working with stakeholders to define evaluation questions, identify meaningful outcomes, and establish appropriate methods. This ensures the evaluation serves your actual decision-making needs rather than just producing reports.

Rigorous Methods

Drawing on expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research, we design studies that provide credible, reliable findings. From logic model development to advanced multivariate analysis, we apply the right tools for your questions.

Actionable Reporting

Our reports go beyond data presentation. We provide clear interpretation, practical recommendations, and guidance for using findings to inform improvement efforts.

Services We Provide

1. Program Evaluation Design & Implementation

Comprehensive evaluation of educational programs, initiatives, or interventions.

What we do:

• Logic Model Development: Create clear visual representations of program theory, inputs, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes

• Evaluation Planning: Design evaluation frameworks aligned with program goals and stakeholder needs

• Data Collection: Implement surveys, focus groups, interviews, observations, and document analysis

• Outcome Assessment: Measure program effectiveness using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods

• Formative & Summative Evaluation: Provide feedback for program improvement (formative) and accountability (summative)

Ideal for: Grant-funded programs, new initiatives, Title III/V projects, student support programs, academic programs

 

 

2. Applied Research & Data Analysis

Research design and statistical analysis to answer institutional questions.

Our capabilities:

• Survey Development & Administration: Design valid, reliable instruments and manage data collection

• Qualitative Analysis: Thematic analysis of interviews, focus groups, open-ended responses

• Quantitative Analysis: Descriptive statistics, correlations, group comparisons (t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square)

• Advanced Modeling: Regression analysis, predictive modeling, MANOVA, factor analysis

• Data Visualization: Clear, compelling charts and graphics that communicate findings effectively

Ideal for: Institutional research questions, student success analyses, program comparison studies, needs assessments

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3. Grant Evaluation Support

Evaluation services for federally funded programs with external reporting requirements.

What we provide:

• External evaluation services for grant compliance

• Annual and final evaluation reports meeting funder specifications

• Formative feedback to program staff throughout grant period

• Data collection and analysis aligned with grant objectives

• Support for grant renewal applications

Experience with: Department of Education grants (Title III, Title V, TRIO, GEAR UP), NSF grants, foundation-funded initiatives

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4. Institutional Effectiveness

Support for ongoing assessment and continuous improvement processes.

Services include:

• Program review processes and templates

• Institutional effectiveness frameworks

• Data dashboards and reporting systems

• Assessment plan development

• Learning outcomes assessment design

Ideal for: Accreditation preparation, assessment office support, academic program review

 

Our Expertise

 

Research Design

Tom Hughes holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and has conducted research throughout his 30+ year career in education and healthcare. This background ensures evaluation designs are methodologically sound and appropriate for your context.

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Statistical Analysis

Before higher education, Tom worked as a statistician and epidemiologist in healthcare, providing deep expertise in quantitative methods and data interpretation.

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Higher Education Knowledge

Unlike generic evaluation consultants, we specialize in higher education. We understand community college missions, student populations, institutional constraints, and accreditation requirements. This means evaluation designs that fit your reality.

 

 

What You Receive

 

Clear, Professional Reports

• Executive summaries highlighting key findings and recommendations

• Detailed methodology sections ensuring transparency and credibility

• Data visualizations that communicate results effectively

• Practical recommendations grounded in findings

• Appendices with supporting materials, instruments, and detailed tables

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Direct Access to Expertise

You work directly with Tom Hughes throughout the project, no handoffs, no junior analysts. This ensures consistency, quality, and responsive communication.

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Who This Is For

• Institutions with grant-funded programs requiring external evaluation

• Colleges seeking to assess program effectiveness or student outcomes

• Leadership teams making data-informed decisions about program portfolio

• Assessment offices needing additional capacity or expertise

• Programs preparing for accreditation or program review

• Institutions wanting to demonstrate impact to stakeholders or funders

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Recent Projects

  

Title III Grant Evaluation

Five-year external evaluation for a comprehensive Department of Education Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) student success initiative, including annual reports, stakeholder surveys, focus groups, and outcome analysis demonstrating significant improvements in retention, completion, and belonging.

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Academic Program Effectiveness Study

Mixed-methods evaluation examining program outcomes, student satisfaction, employer feedback, and labor market alignment for a community college career-technical program—findings informed program redesign and resource allocation.

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The GSH Difference

Many consultants can run statistical analyses. What sets GSH apart is the combination of methodological expertise, higher education knowledge, and practical wisdom about what institutions need. We don't just deliver numbers; we provide insights that inform real decisions and improvements.

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Get Started

Have an evaluation need or question?

[Schedule Consultation] [Request Proposal]

We're happy to discuss your evaluation needs, timeline, and budget to determine if we're a good fit for your project.