The University of Wisconsin-Superior has recently launched its new Center for Research and Evaluation Services.

As an applied research center focused on serving the community, UW-Superior’s Center for Research and Evaluation Services provides critical resources for local businesses, nonprofits and public institutions across Lake Superior’s southern shore and beyond.

“Throughout the years, UW-Superior has received requests from community members and organizations to be involved or help in different research projects,” said Emily Neumann, director of Institutional Research and Sponsored Programs and member of the research team. “Our office and other centers and departments across campus were not always able to provide such services, and this center is a response to those needs.”

After completing a study of research centers offering similar broad services in Wisconsin and Minnesota, surveying local organizations to assess research needs, and subsequent interviews with a sample of survey respondents, it was determined that an applied research center would meet an existing need in our community.

This center will provide professional fee-for-service research to organizations within the region. The center is revenue-neutral, with all fees for service ensuring the operations of the center. Initial research services will include data collection and analysis, program assessment and evaluation, and process facilitation.

Research services include both primary and secondary data collection and analysis. Examples include surveys of internal and external client stakeholders, focus groups, market analysis, and data collection and analyses for grant submissions.

“The lack of this type of service in rural areas hinders the flow of dollars to non-metro places and Tribal Nations, essentially creating an even bigger divide between urban and rural places and limiting access to resources for smaller communities,” said Jason Hollinday, Fond du Lac Planning Division Director. “Having experts in our region to call upon for support with data, assessments and evaluations will increase competitiveness when seeking funding and help us tell a better story of the impact being made in our communities.”