| dc.description.abstract | For over 50 years, Mission Graduates has been a cornerstone in San Francisco's community by providing crucial services for students and their families. The organization, spanning from elementary to college-level support, has impacted over 5,000 students and families with a mission to empower youth towards higher education and fulfilling careers. However, the Impact Gen program, designed for first-generation college students and young professionals, faces challenges in evaluation and enrollment effectiveness, hindering its envisioned impact.
This Capstone project investigates the factors affecting Impact Gen within Mission Graduates. The questions that guided this project were:
What are current practices that either facilitate or hinder Impact Gen in achieving its program goals?
In designing an evaluation platform for Impact Gen, what measurable outcomes should Mission Graduates focus upon?
How can Mission Graduates leverage a feedback and data collection system in their strategic planning?
The study employed a cross-sectional research method and utilized surveys, focus groups, and empathy interviews to address the project questions. After analyzing the data for our project, the following findings emerged: mentoring emerges as a vital program component, requiring continuous training, engagement opportunities, and improved communication channels. Workforce development emerges as a crucial area, suggesting an early focus during the Mission Graduates journey. Limited resources necessitate strategic partnerships and resource optimization for program expansion. Clear communication emphasizing the program's importance proves pivotal in recruitment and commitment. Importantly, a lack of a consistent evaluation system is identified, pointing to the need for robust outcome measurement.
Recommendations center on enhancing Impact Gen's structure: continuous training and engagement for mentors, establishing College Connect as a strategic pipeline, strengthening Impact Gen through comprehensive support, communicating the essential nature of Impact Gen, and developing a comprehensive program evaluation system. These recommendations aim to address identified weaknesses, fortify program strengths, and align Impact Gen more closely with Mission Graduates' overarching goals. | |
