The Center for Assessment, Planning and Accountability’s (CAPA) mission is to provide high-quality evaluative and action research services using methodologies that best fulfill the needs of our clients. CAPA, established in 2004, is part of the non-profit United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) located in Fairfax, VA.

 

CAPA is focused on:

 

·          Conducting evaluations using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods that enable programs to improve programs, demonstrate effectiveness, and provide information required for decision-making processes;

·          Enabling minority institutions to gain greater access to government funding priorities through the inclusion of evaluation methodologies in proposals and other funding efforts; and

·          Developing and participating in action research studies that can build the capacity of minority institutions and faculty.

 

Many programs or organizations desire to engage in a process to improve their work. Program improvement is based on the information that can be gained from an evaluation. CAPA, in close consultation with program representatives, will design an evaluation to systematically acquire data provide useful information to all program stakeholders.  Depending on the goals, the evaluation can be a descriptive study, implementation analysis, program management study, or a study of program worth or merit.

 

Instead of discreet evaluations, many programs and organizations have ongoing data needs. In consultation with program representatives, CAPA will identify the data points that will enable the program or organization to monitor progress towards program goals and objectives. CAPA will then develop the tools to enable the organization to collect and analyze the required data. This supports program sustainability and accountability.

 

 

The Office of Management and Budget has instituted the Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) to reinforce government accountability. CAPA can support programs or organizations that are seeking to provide the government funding agency with the type of data needed to respond to the PART.

 

 

A high quality proposal often requires an evaluative component. CAPA will work with the proposal development team to develop an evaluation plan that will meet the needs of the funding agency or foundation and the activities that are being proposed.

 

There are times when programs or organizations do not wish to conduct a large-scale evaluation. They would like, however, to collect data on a small-scale. CAPA can offer services in this area as well. CAPA can develop data collection instruments to serve the information needs. Services offered include survey development, interviews, focus group moderation, and other services to meet information needs. For cost-efficiency, UNCFSP’s Integrated Communication and Technology Center (ICTC) can be utilized to conduct internet surveys, video conferencing for focus groups and interviews, and telephone conferencing.

 

Programs, organizations, and institutions often have datasets that need analysis. CAPA primarily utilizes the software package SPSS to provide a full range of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.