Providence College (PC) announced today that it has received a substantial, six-year grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to promote inclusive excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The funding, in the amount of $493, 065, is for the project titled “Meaningful evaluation of effective and inclusive teaching through changes in policy, effective instruction development, and optimal sources of evidence.”
Dr. Lynne Lawson, assistant professor of physics, will lead PC’s team of faculty to carry out the project. The PC team will collaborate as part of an HHMI-organized Learning Community Cluster (LCC) with colleagues at 15 institutions of higher education. “We are thrilled to have received this award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to help us promote inclusive teaching not only in STEM, but across campus,” said Dr. Lawson. “We look forward to working with faculty, administrators, and students for our work. The unique structure of this HHMI grant also allows us to work with and learn from a diverse group at universities and colleges from across the country which is very exciting.”
“This project aligns strongly with Providence College’s founding principles, mission and strategic vision,” said Providence College President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard, O.P. “Its novel approach to inter-institutional engagement brings together a talented group of faculty and administrators from across the country in a quest to foster inclusive excellence in undergraduate education. The College is grateful for the programmatic and financial support the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has provided PC and our partner institutions. We are excited about this next phase of work,” Fr. Sicard said.
“This new initiative complements several ongoing efforts that promote inclusive excellence college-wide,” added Providence College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Sean Reid.
The overall project aims to develop and share policies, modes of instructor development, and sources of evidence that will allow institutions of higher learning to incentivize, foster, and evaluate inclusive teaching and disrupt exclusionary norms. Providence College’s efforts will focus on instructor development with a goal of creating a comprehensive, flexible faculty professional development program that promotes inclusive teaching practices with a secondary focus of developing peer evaluation tools and processes.
This grant is part of HHMI’s Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) initiative which aims to help U.S. colleges and universities build capacity for inclusion for all students, especially those who have historically been excluded from science. Over 60 million in funding will be shared by 104 four-year colleges and universities. The institutions have been divided into seven diverse learning community clusters to maximize learning and influence change.
The institutions in PC’s LCC cluster are Bryn Mawr College, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Gettysburg College, Gustavus Adolphus College, North Carolina A & T State University, Pennsylvania State University, Pomona College, University of Georgia, University of La Verne, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Oklahoma, University of Oregon, University of Portland, and Whittier College.
About HHMI
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is the largest private biomedical research institution in the United States. Our scientists make discoveries that advance human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. We also invest in transforming science education into a creative, inclusive endeavor that reflects the excitement of research. HHMI’s headquarters are located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
About Providence College
Founded in 1917, Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars and has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,100 students. Providence College has ranked first among regional colleges and universities in the North for the last three years according to U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.”
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