Blog — Sensemaking Lab

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 8/4/26

Internal vs. External Evaluators: How to Decide

Internal vs. external evaluator: the honest trade-offs on cost, independence, capacity, and credibility, plus when to choose each and the hybrid middle path.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/28/26

Enrollment Forecasting 101

Enrollment forecasting explained plainly: what it is, the main methods, the data you need, why to disaggregate, and the pitfalls that sink a projection.

Education Support · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/21/26

Student Retention Strategies That Work

Student retention strategies that move persistence: leading indicators, early-warning systems, wraparound support, and honest measurement that shows the gap.

Critical Analytics · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/14/26

What Is Critical Analytics?

Critical analytics is data analysis that asks how a metric was built, what it measures, and who benefits, not just what the numbers say. Here is what that changes.

Evaluation · Oscar J Mayorga · 7/7/26

How to Choose a Program Evaluator

What a program evaluator does, how internal and external evaluation compare, the six questions to ask before you hire, and the green and red flags that separate a strong fit from an expensive disappointment.