Mercy College Receives $1M Grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute for Inclusive Excellence Initiative
Mercy College is one of 33 colleges and universities to receive a $1 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to develop models that will build capacity to effectively engage all students in science education. The grant, which is awarded over five years, creates a partnership with HHMI and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to engage colleges in the process of cultural change.
Started in 2014, the HHMI Inclusive Excellence Initiative has provided millions of dollars to colleges and universities to help rethink the approach to science education to develop models of inclusive excellence through various approaches, including revised curricula, restructuring educational pathways and providing faculty training in cultural and racial bias awareness. Each of the 33 schools chosen will receive $1 million in grant support.
“This initiative is about encouraging colleges and universities to change the way they do business — to become institutions with a significantly greater capacity for inclusion of all students, especially those from nontraditional backgrounds,” said HHMI President Erin O’Shea.
Through this grant, Mercy College will work to develop, implement and assess two interrelated initiatives to increase capacity for inclusions. The first is the creation of the Adjunct Academy for science instructors, the first of its kind in the New York region, to develop engaged and interculturally-competent adjunct faculty who are reflective of student needs across our biology curriculum. The second is creating predictive analytics and data-driven personalized pathways to strategically expand the use of analytics with a focus to better understand and address factors that impact our students’ success.
“Our collaborative, holistic approach to inclusive excellence is tied to Mercy’s mission, strategic plan and institutional mindset,” said Mercy College President Tim Hall. “This grant from HHMI will help us to continue to cultivate engaged and interculturally-competent faculty who are reflective of students’ needs and who feel included and valued as members of the College community.”
“As a minority serving institution, Mercy College is dedicated to providing contemporary and effective teaching strategies to all students,” said Dr. José Herrera, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our goal is to continue to provide opportunities through a transformational education that is personalized to our students’ needs.”
To learn more about the HHMI grant click here: https://www.hhmi.org/news/33-schools-support-diversity-and-inclusion-campus-through-2018-hhmi-inclusive-excellence.