Do you have questions about the Clinton School Impact Center? Find answers to some of the most common questions we receive below.
We are a multidisciplinary team of Clinton School faculty and staff that provide applied research and evaluation consulting services for the Arkansas community and beyond. We specialize in community-engaged applied research and external evaluations for nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies.
The CSIC will serve as your partner in progress and impact, regardless of your level of research and evaluation experience. We are committed to mutually beneficial partnerships that empower our community partners.
The CSIC provides a range of services that are responsive to the needs of community partners, including:
- Evaluation strategy development
- Asset mapping and needs assessment
- Monitoring and evaluation support
- Community-engaged research and evaluation
- Applied research to assess community awareness, needs, and perceptions
- Analysis of existing program data
- Capacity building for monitoring and evaluation
- Data collection to inform program planning and design
- Logic model and theory of change development
Organizations are welcome to propose additional services and needs, which we will take into consideration depending on our capacity.
The Clinton School Impact Center (CSIC) encourages and emphasizes participatory and inclusive evaluation approaches that prioritize the perspectives and needs of the communities being served. We encourage the involvement and input of community members throughout our evaluation processes. We value organizational and community partners as experts in their work and their lived experiences. We understand that including the voices of these experts leads to more credible and valid final deliverables and greater buy-in and sustainability for the evaluation results.
The Clinton School of Public Service offers two distinct yet complementary pathways for organizations to leverage our “Research in Action” model. Both are built on a partnership designed to strengthen communities while advancing the field of public service.
Field Service Partnerships
For two decades, our students have been at the forefront of community-driven change, contributing nearly 550,000 field service hours right here in Arkansas and also across 100 countries in six continents. Organizations can partner directly with our Master of Public Service students through:
- The Practicum: Local, team-based projects.
- International Public Service Projects (IPSP): Individual global research and development projects during the summer between students’ first and second year.
- The Capstone: In-depth, individual leadership projects.
The Clinton School Impact Center
The CSIC serves as a professional bridge, allowing organizations to partner with our expert faculty and senior professional staff, many of whom are Clinton School alumni.
The CSIC does not replace student field service. Rather, it builds upon our existing partnerships and creates specialized opportunities for our most advanced students to serve as Graduate Assistants or work with our clients during their IPSP and Capstone projects, providing them with a platform to apply sophisticated data analysis and evaluation skills under professional mentorship.
Which Partnership is Right for You?
While both pathways provide high-quality outcomes, CSIC engagements are designed for projects that:
- Require Advanced Expertise: High-level research and rigorous evaluation products.
- Operate Outside the Academic Calendar: Timelines that are either shorter (rapid response) or longer (multi-year) than a standard academic year.
- Scale Beyond Student Capacity: Complex projects that require the oversight of seasoned practitioners.
With a $15.8 million total economic impact generated through our combined efforts in the Clinton School’s first 20 years of operation, we are committed to helping you find the right fit for your mission!
Contact us today to schedule your complimentary 30-minute initial consultation.
To help us better understand your organization and project, we ask that you complete and submit the Consultation Request Form. Someone from our team will contact you within 5 business days. Please be prepared to discuss the specifics of your project, your timeline, budget, and any other relevant information.
You can also email our Executive Director, Dr. Nichola Driver, at nddriver@clintonschool.uasys.edu.
After you complete the Consultation Request Form, we will reach out to you within 5 business days to set up a complimentary 30-minute virtual consultation meeting.
To prepare for your consultation, please be ready to discuss your project needs, timeline, and budget. We respect the confidentiality of your organization, programs, projects, initiatives, and clients.
Ready to move forward? Following our initial meeting, we will draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and scope of work tailored to your organization’s specific goals.