Note: As of February 2013, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evaluation Fellowship Program has closed. More information about the program can be found at RWJF.org.
The OMG Center for Collaborative Learning and Duquesne University, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, have teamed up to launch the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evaluation Fellows program. The program aims to build diversity in the evaluation field by providing enriching work experiences and training in program evaluation to emerging professionals from groups historically underrepresented in the research disciplines.
The Postsecondary Success Track of the Evaluation Fellows Program invites evaluation firms with expertise in postsecondary success to host underrepresented emerging professionals for a one-year, full-time fellowship. Host organizations will provide a full-time, entry-level evaluation position for one year. The position should include a competitive salary (based on the location of the placement and the Fellow's prior professional experience), health insurance, and fringe benefits similar to other staff at the placement organization. Additionally, placement organizations must have experienced evaluation staff that will mentor and coach the fellow on their current postsecondary success evaluation projects. Placement Organizations will receive a $5,000 subsidy to offset costs incurred related to fellow's compensation.
Fellows will receive additional training in culturally responsive evaluation in workshops, mentorship and networking opportunities with senior researchers and evaluators, and free attendance at key professional research and evaluation conferences. The ultimate goal of the Evaluation Fellows Program is to infuse the program evaluation field with well-trained individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to meet the increasing diversity of programs and communities that the postsecondary field serves.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evaluation Fellows program invites interested organizations to host emerging professionals in a one-year, full-time fellowship. Individuals from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities include ethnic or racial minorities, those from low-income communities, individuals whom are the first in their family to attend college, or others who have been historically underrepresented in the program evaluation field. The program's ultimate goal is to infuse the program evaluation field with well-trained individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to meet the increasing diversity of programs and communities that the profession serves.
To be eligible to host an RWJF Fellow, organizations must: Have established expertise and capacity in research and evaluation, and have research and evaluation projects underway; Have experienced evaluation staff to mentor and coach the RWJF Evaluation Fellow; Be willing to provide a full-time, entry-level position in evaluation for the RWJF Fellow for one year, with the possibility of renewing the RWJF Fellow for an additional year; Be willing to provide the RWJF Fellow with a competitive salary, based on the location of the placement and the Fellow’s prior professional experience ($45,000-$65,000).
The placement organization must also provide the RWJF Fellow with the same employment benefits that other full-time employees of the organization receive (including health insurance); Be willing to release the RWJF Fellow from work four times per year for week long training workshops; and Be willing to release the RWJF Fellow’s mentor one time per year to travel to a program meeting.