Community Research & Evaluation

WORK WITH US

The mission, values, and activities of the Community Research & Evaluation (CRE) help Weber State University fulfill its strategic goals.

1. The CRE utilizes an equity lens in our work that focuses on reducing disparities in the community. (Goal 1:EDI)
2. We guide our students through high-impact educational experiences that directly benefit our community partners. (Goal 3: Personal Connections and Academic Excellence)
3. The trust we cultivate with the community has enabled us to develop robust partnerships with community organizations to build community prosperity. (Goals 3 and 4: Community Anchor Mission)
4. We engage faculty fellows and support them through the breadth of the community research process. (Goals 3 and 4)
5. Through the sum of our work, the CRE helps the community build capacity and promote systemic local change for a thriving community. (Goal 4)

• Criteria for taking on projects

  1. Does the project help us meet our mission (help create positive social change)?
     1. If yes, we will consider the project irrespective of whether it is for a non-profit or for-profit entity or an individual.
     2. If no, we will decline.
  2. Do we have the capacity and skill set do to the project in house, on budget, and within the timeline needed?
     1. If yes, we will take the project.
     2. If we do not have the capacity or skill set we will help find an appropriate researcher if we think not having the project completed would be detrimental to the community and/or seeing the project completed would further the CRE research agenda.  If reasonable efforts to find an appropriate researcher within a designated time period fail, we will decline the project
     3. If there is no budget or insufficient budget we will take on the project IF: 
        1. we have the capacity and skills to complete the project in the time needed; the organization must be able to give the CRE flexibility
        2. the organization has demonstrated that it does not have the capability of paying for the project
        3. the project furthers the CRE’s research goals, would help other local organizations, or is of use to the community in general
        4. Does not impede us from completing paid work
  3. If there are two or more equally important, paid projects and the CRE only has the capacity to do one, the CRE will:
     1. If appropriate, see if they can find another researcher to complete one of the two projects, OR
     2. If the timeline of one can be adjusted so that both are possible OR
     3. Choose the project that more clearly advances the CRE research agenda OR is more clearly beneficial to the wider community OR
     4. Complete the project that is paid OR
     5. Complete the project that better complements the available researcher’s preference
     6. If in all ways the project are equal and none of the previous four solutions work, both projects shall be declined.
  4. A researcher or evaluator may take on any unpaid project under four hours for a community partner that they have the time and skills to complete, with the approval of the supervisor.

• Criteria for selecting research fellows

  1. A research fellow will be sought to complete a CRE research or evaluation project if CRE staff do not have the skill set or time to complete the project.
  2. A research fellow may be Weber State faculty or staff, a community member, or faculty or staff from another university.
  3. A research fellow may be hired through a number of hiring processes including an RFP process, applying for a posted WSU job opening [phrasing], or agreement with CRE staff member.  Irrespective of the process, an applicant must demonstrate experience with the skills needed, present a CV and writing sample, and have an interview.  It is preferable the candidate have experience working with community partners and have professional experiences outside the academy.
  4. Any research fellow will be supervised by the director of Community Research.  The research must meet weekly or bi-weekly, receive feedback and support on the research process, and listen to and incorporate written feedback on the final product.