Host Site Readiness Assessment

HOST SITE READINESS ASSESSMENT

The following section is to provide prospective host sites a quick assessment of preparedness for hosting an MTCC VISTA. This tool evaluates a potential site’s capacity, priority alignment, service-position type and resources available to host a VISTA member.
Select ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ for the following statements and write down any thoughts regarding your responses.
We have clearly identified a problem such as improve graduation or completion rates or increasing the number of first generation college students enrolling and succeeding in college, (etc.) and have some data or expert opinion to support our beliefs: / Yes / No
The need we have identified relates primarily to education or veterans and military families, or a large portion of the work we’re planning to undertake involves one of these two items: / Yes / No
We are committed to a methodical, community-driven approach to addressing this problem: / Yes / No
We have organized a group of stakeholders, including those affected by the problem / Yes / No
We have thought about ways to address this problem, e.g. developing a mentor program: / Yes / No
IF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IS APPLYING: We have plans for partnering with our local community so our work is broadly supported: / Yes / No
IF A NONPROFIT, SCHOOL OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS APPLYING: We have plans for involving the local campus in the response to the problem e.g. “college student volunteers as mentors”: / Yes / No
We have identified a staff member and dedicated 5-10% of their time to locally supervise a VISTA: / Yes / No
We have available work space (i.e. a computer, phone, desk, etc.) to sufficiently support a full-time VISTA: / Yes / No
We have funding available to support hiring a VISTA: / Yes / No
If all “Yes” - You are ready to go! Now is the chance to set your VISTA project up for success. A thorough, thoughtful application is the first step toward laying the groundwork for your VISTA project.
If mostly “Yes” - Consider how you may move all responses to ‘Yes’, particularly those questions concerning organizational capacity (supervision, workspace, funding). It is imperative that a host site be ready when the VISTA arrives on site. Work with your staff and local campus to ensure preparedness for MTCC VISTA.
If mostly “No” - Carefully consider if MTCC VISTA is the right fit for your project at this time. Discuss with MTCC staff the minimum requirements for a first year project. MTCC recruits VISTA host sites on an annual basis and is continually seeking new partners.