The Center for Assessment, Research and Evaluation (CARE) will introduce California State University, Northridge students, faculty and staff to its services on Dec. 3 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Delmar T. Oviatt Library’s Ferman Presentation Room.

CARE is a CSUN research center that was formed in 2013 by faculty from various colleges interested in expanding research opportunities across the campus and encouraging faculty from different disciplines to collaborate on research projects. The center receives funding for facilities, equipment and personnel from the Office of the Provost and various grants.

At the kickoff event, attendees can listen to a brief presentation about the new center and ask the staff questions about its services.

“Our goal for this event is to introduce CARE to the university and announce what we do,” said Julie Coveney, CARE coordinator. “We want [CSUN] to know that we exist as a means of supporting their research and grant writing, as well as offering opportunities for them to collaborate on research and evaluation plans.”

Besides doing research with other colleges on campus, CARE also provides evaluation services for funded grants, Coveney said. CARE is currently working on the $22 million grant for BUILD PODER — an undergraduate research training program at CSUN — which is the largest grant ever awarded to CSUN, along with other grant-funded projects.

“A lot of CSUN faculty have to write research grants,” said CARE Director Beverly Cabello. “Almost all grants must have an evaluation component to it, so we are here so that faculty don’t have to scramble, trying to find someone to evaluate their grant.”

CSUN professor and BUILD PODER co-principal investigator Carrie Saetermoe and Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students William Watkins will address attendees at Thursday’s event. Saetermoe will discuss her experience with CARE and how others on campus and around the community can get involved in research, and Watkins will provide general introductions and talk about how CARE impacts students.

CARE also offers CSUN staff and students paid work opportunities, which include data collection, data analysis and conducting research surveys.

“Previous students who worked with our professors have moved on to professional jobs in evaluation, market research, community organizing and nonprofits,” Coveney said. “This is the type of training and experience that can prepare them for these types of jobs.”

For more information about CARE, email care@csun.edu or visit www.csun.edu/care.

CARE, center for assessment research and evaluation, CSUN