SEEKING EXPERIENCE IN PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR THE 2014 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL GRANT COMPETITION PEER REVIEW
QUALIFICATIONS FOR PEER REVIEW
Minimum Qualifications for Reviewers - Reviewers must demonstrate at least one of the following experience qualifications, with preference given to Reviewers demonstrating both:
Core Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience in one of the six Focus Areas; core experience years can be supplemented with evaluation experience, or
Evaluation Experience: Completed graduate coursework in (or a program evaluation course that included both) research design and statistics; in the social sciences, public policy/administration, business administration or organizational development.
Preferred Qualifications in Evaluation Experience - Preference for selection is given to Reviewers with the preferred level of Evaluation Experience:
3+ years managing program evaluations for an organization or agency or serving as a program evaluator (either internal or external) for an organization or agency.
Ability to analyze research results, be familiar with a wide range of experimental and non-experimental evaluation designs, and understand common evaluation challenges.
o Reviewers should have acquired this experience through leadership positions in public, private, or grant making organizations; graduate work; academic positions; management consulting experience with nonprofit or grant making organizations; or relevant board or committee membership.
THE CNCS PEER REVIEW PROCESS
The FY2013 AmeriCorps grant competition Peer Review utilizes a distance-based Field Review model, eliminating the need to travel for review participation.
Each Reviewer is assigned to a review panel and assigned specific applications to discuss during their panel deliberations.
Some Reviewers may be eligible to serve as Panel Coordinators to manage a review panel and facilitate discussions.
The review process lasts two to three weeks and can take about 50 hours of active time to complete. There are mandatory orientation sessions, as well as panel calls that require alterations to normal work and/or activity schedules.
CNCS offers Reviewers and Panel Coordinators with the exception of federal employees, a modest honorarium for their participation.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPATING
If chosen, all Review Participants are asked to respond to questions to determine if a Conflict of Interest (e.g., involvement with an organization applying for an AmeriCorps Grant, State Commissions) exists. Please note, the names of all participating Reviewers and Panel Coordinators for CNCS grant competitions may be made public after the close of the review.
HOW TO RESPOND
If interested in participating as a Peer Reviewer for the FY2014 AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competitions (January 2014), send an email to PeerReviewers@cns.gov. Please use the subject line “Evaluation Experience - AmeriCorps Review.” CNCS will respond immediately with information on how to proceed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the AmeriCorps competitions and CNCS, please visit our website. For general information about becoming a CNCS Peer Reviewer, please consult eGrants Reviewer Information.
TELL A FRIEND OR COLLEAGUE!
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