The impact of educational research centers on occupational health and safety alumni competence. A program evaluation.

ABSTRACT

1. A 10 step method for program evaluation can be used to evaluate the success of a program in meeting its major goals and objectives. This evaluation examined the 20 year impact of the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, a NIOSH supported Educational Research Center, on its alumni. 2. The majority of alumni (89%) reported the primary focus of their work after graduation was the provision of occupational and environmental health and safety products and services--consistent with the legislative intent of Educational Research Centers (ERC). 3. Alumni reported the most highly valued ERC products and services included interdisciplinary interactions during and after graduate school, research training, and the presence of the ERC as a regional focal point for occupational health and safety graduate and continuing education. 4. The program evaluation design and survey instrument employed in this study are recommended for adaptation by other ERCs or educational programs faced with the challenge of providing evaluation data with minimal resources.