The Gathering Evaluation & Results
A comprehensive program evaluation was conducted of The Gathering to gauge the program's effectiveness and relevance. Participants completed an indepth online program evaluation the week after they attended. The results reflect AFLV’s commitment to excellence in producing a leading edge experience and our ability to positively enhance the professional development of the individual participants.
Quality Scores: Quantitative Data
Every participant who attends The Gathering is asked to rate the overall quality of the program. All but one participant rated it the highest score of "Excellent". The remaining participant provided the next highest score of "Good".
The participants were asked to rate this event compared to other professional development events/conferences they have attended. 90% provided a score of "Excellent" with the remaining 10% giving a score of "Good".
95% of all participants agreed or strongly agreed that The Gathering GREATLY impacted them in a positive way.
When asked if as a result of their attendance at The Gathering, they were prepared to do something significant and profound, 95% indicated that YES, they were.
100% of those in attendance indicated that they would recommend The Gathering to their peers.
Participant Voices: Qualitative Data
Participants were encouraged to share their experience in their own words as well. The following are comments taken from the various evaluation questions that particularly capture the themes of the program.
"...(T)he process of searching for, discussing and identifying personal 'declarations' was phenomenal. Mine was professionally transformative, and happened as a result of reflection time, side conversations, Switch, the small group declaration time, and being challenged to share it publicly."
"(I learned that) I can take control and direct my FSL Program instead of being reactive to the administration and others at my institution who don't really "get" what Greek Life should be doing. Bernard Franklin also gave me an "ah ha" moment when he talked about preparing our students for the global society...I had never really thought about that in terms of Greek Life."
"One of the most beneficial aspects was the session regarding looking at our job/industry/work from the balcony rather than being on the dance floor all the time - combined with the thought of "true but useless information". This is critical for me in stepping back and analzying what I'm doing."
"I realized I can just "do" something about the problem instead of just sitting as an observer or commenting from the sidelines." "(The most valuable component of The Gathering was) the environment of competence, brutal honesty, confrontation, trust, and high expectations that was created."
"(I really enjoyed) the fact that it wasn't just knowledge being stuffed into our brains (like a "how to" manual). We were taught things, but it was done in the context where we were expected to immediately apply what we learned right then."
"(As a result of attending The Gathering) I'm going to start on my campus with which I have a great deal of influence and I'm not going to take the easy road like I have done in the past. I'm going to have the harder conversations and not be afraid to ask "why won't that work" or "why shouldn't we address it?" I'm also going to make sure I remain engaged in whatever I can and do it in a meaningful way."
"I have re-committed to myself, my work, and my role within the fraternal movement. I will continue to reflect on my professional development goals and plans, engage the students I work with in becoming change agents within their communities, and begin addressing the professional development needs of our larger profession."
"I am so honored to have been selected. I learned a tremendous amount from books to strategies. Thank you for opening my brain to explore what could be, not just what is and how to fix it. I felt challenged and am still processing the information. I am eager and determined to make change on my campus...and beyond."
"I can't believe I ever doubted if I should go. It was incredible and my own work has really been rejuvenated and reenergized! I also LOVED the mixed of national offices/organizations, campuses, and consultants - I really think we all need to really work together anyways - and this rarely happens."
"This has been a life changing professional experience for me and rejuvenated me to remember why I came into this field and why it will remain my life's work. The Gathering offered me the opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals in the field that are on the same path as I am- to stop the talk and create action steps to move our movement forward. This is a critical experience for others that want to stop standing by and complaining and actually do something to attend."