THURS-076 - Evaluation of the Bobcat Well-being and Resource Fair

Brief Abstract Summary: The Bobcat Well-Being and Resource Fair, scheduled for November 2025, is a multidimensional campus wellness event. An evaluation plan was designed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2024 Program Evaluation Framework to assess implementation and inform future programming. The planning team developed a logic model and prioritized evaluation questions related to engagement, satisfaction, and behavioral intention. While a formal needs assessment was not conducted, student and stakeholder input helped shape evaluation priorities. Planned data collection methods include attendance tracking, scavenger hunt submissions, observation logs, participant surveys, and partner feedback. Although results are not yet available, the evaluation design and instruments will be presented. This poster offers a replicable model for designing proactive, student-centered health promotion evaluation in higher education settings.

Detailed abstract description:

Background: The Bobcat Well-Being and Resource Fair, scheduled for November 2025, is a collaborative health promotion event designed to engage students, faculty, and staff across the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. An evaluation plan was developed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2024 Program Evaluation Framework to guide both the assessment of the fair’s implementation and the refinement of future events. This poster outlines the evaluation design process and how the six framework steps were applied to a university-wide initiative.

Methods: Contextual assessment and program description began with a clear articulation of the fair’s purpose, logic model, and alignment with institutional wellness priorities. As the event was initiated through an unsolicited community outreach opportunity offering free body composition assessments to students, a formal needs assessment was not conducted. Instead, the evaluation strategy was informed by formative feedback from students and stakeholders involved in the planning committee. Evaluation priorities were narrowed to focus on reach, engagement, satisfaction, and perceived relevance of event activities. Evaluation questions were developed to assess the extent to which students interacted with wellness content, learned about available campus resources, and intended to adopt or maintain healthful behaviors. Planned data collection methods include attendance tracking, scavenger hunt card submissions, observation logs, post-event participant surveys, and feedback forms from presenters and partners. These data sources will allow for triangulation and provide a well-rounded view of the fair’s implementation and participant experience. To generate actionable insights, the evaluation team will analyze findings through both descriptive statistics and qualitative content review, supported by the logic model developed during planning.

Results: As the event has not yet occurred, process and impact evaluation results are forthcoming and will be presented in this poster. However, planned evaluation strategies will be used to assess fidelity of implementation, participant engagement, and initial behavioral intentions. Evaluation findings will be shared with campus stakeholders and used to improve event structure, refine outreach strategies, and enhance student participation in future wellness programming.

Discussion: This planning process highlights the benefits of proactively designing evaluation plans that are flexible, collaborative, and guided by established frameworks.