Higher Education
HIGHER EDUCATION
Better Evidence.
Stronger Institutions.
Helping colleges and universities strengthen student success, evaluate programs, secure funding, and plan for the future.
Shaffer Evaluation Group brings rigorous research and practical insight to the challenges facing higher education—from improving student experiences and outcomes to strengthening institutional capacity and effectiveness.
OUR APPROACH
Helping institutions turn evidence into action.
Colleges and universities face growing demands to improve student outcomes, demonstrate institutional effectiveness, respond to changing workforce needs, and make strategic decisions in an increasingly complex environment. Meeting these challenges requires reliable evidence, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate findings into practical improvements.
Shaffer Evaluation Group partners with colleges, universities, community colleges, and higher education organizations to address these needs through applied research, program evaluation, grant development, and strategic planning.
Our approach combines rigorous research methods with an understanding of the institutional context. We work closely with faculty, administrators, students, and community partners to develop evaluation and research strategies that reflect institutional goals and generate useful findings.
Whether evaluating a federally funded initiative, examining barriers to student success, or helping an institution plan for sustainable change, we provide the evidence and insights needed to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
Higher Education Services
RESEARCH & SPECIAL STUDIES
Find answers to complex institutional questions.
We conduct applied research that helps colleges and universities better understand their students, programs, and communities. Our work includes needs assessments, student and stakeholder surveys, institutional climate studies, workforce research, and specialized investigations that inform policy, resource allocation, and institutional improvement.
PROGRAM & GRANT EVALUATION
Understand what's working--and how to improve it.
We design and conduct independent evaluations that help institutions assess program and grant project implementation, measure outcomes, and strengthen effectiveness. Our evaluations provide credible evidence for accountability, continuous improvement, and informed decision-making.
GRANT DEVELOPMENT & WRITING
Turn promising ideas into competitive proposals.
We help higher education institutions develop compelling, evidence-informed grant applications. From needs assessments and program design to logic models, measurable objectives, and evaluation plans, we bring research and grant development expertise to the proposal process, helping institutions build a stronger case for investment.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Build a shared vision for the future.
We support institutions in developing strategic plans grounded in evidence and informed by the perspectives of their stakeholders. Through environmental scans, institutional assessments, stakeholder engagement, and facilitated planning, we help colleges and universities establish priorities and develop actionable strategies for long-term improvement.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Experience across the higher education landscape.
From community colleges and regional universities to research institutions, SEG works with higher education partners to strengthen programs, expand educational opportunities, and support institutional improvement.
Our experience spans a broad range of institutional priorities, including:
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Student Success & Retention: Evaluating initiatives designed to strengthen academic advising, student support services, engagement, persistence, and degree completion.
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Institutional Capacity Building: Assessing efforts to improve academic programs, administrative systems, institutional effectiveness, and the sustainability of organizational change.
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STEM & Workforce Development: Studying programs that expand educational pathways, strengthen technical education, and align academic offerings with workforce and industry needs.
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Access & Educational Opportunity: Examining initiatives that address barriers to participation and achievement, particularly for students and communities historically underserved by higher education.
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Faculty Development & Teaching Innovation: Evaluating professional learning, instructional innovation, and initiatives designed to strengthen teaching and student learning.
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Federally Funded Initiatives: Supporting Title III and other grant-funded projects through evaluation planning, performance measurement, reporting, and sustainability assessment.
Across these areas, we work with institutional leaders and project teams to develop evidence that supports both immediate program improvement and long-term institutional goals.
"They have supported our Title III grant writing efforts, helping us craft stronger goals and objectives and developing comprehensive evaluation plans. . . Patricia’s team has been invaluable to us, providing a variety of guidance and support when it was most needed
— University campus director
Client Spotlight
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Title III Strengthening Communities Grant Evaluation (2022-2025)
This evaluation examined OSUIT's progress developing course modules using XR-related content and establishing an endowment fund.
Let's strengthen what's working.
Whether you're evaluating a grant-funded initiative, exploring a research question, developing a funding proposal, or planning your institution's next chapter, SEG can help.
Bring us your questions. We'll help you find the evidence and develop a path forward.
Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.