HHMI-IE3 Grant Announcement

Xavier Inclusive Excellence in Pedagogy Priority Supported by Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Xavier University’s strategic priority to redefine teaching excellence through inclusive pedagogy has received six years of support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) initiative.

The unique grant program placed Xavier with thirteen other schools in a “Learning Community Cluster” interested in addressing the challenge “How can we make the content of the introductory science experience more inclusive?” The cluster developed a joint proposal to work on projects spanning three areas: institutionalize professional development practices and resources to create safe, equitable, and supportive teaching and learning communities; establish collaborative processes for evaluating and redesigning introductory STEM courses; and create peer-to-peer cultures of support through student connections.

The HHMI-IE3 grant provides the cluster $8 million in total support over the next six years. The funds include dedicated support of $377,800 to Xavier directly and an additional $1.8 million for projects in cooperation with other cluster members. The direct funds will allow Xavier to expand its expertise in professional and curricular development for inclusion.

Xavier’s project team brings expertise from its Center for Teaching Excellence, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and faculty across STEM programs. Leveraging established programs for faculty development, first-year diversity programs, and its experience in curriculum revision for inclusion, Xavier will work with cluster members to further enhance our capacity for inclusion through deeper engagement of STEM faculty, more comprehensive use of data and inclusive teaching practices in course design, and expansion of efforts to build peer-to-peer support.

Notes Dr. Rachel Chrastil, Xavier University Provost and Chief Academic Officer, “Xavier’s Jesuit Catholic mission calls us to inclusive excellence. The support of HHMI will allow us to both share our expertise and learn from others in our LCC as we renew our ongoing commitment to supporting students from historically excluded backgrounds.”

Along with Xavier University, other members of the Learning Community Cluster include fellow Jesuit University Fairfield University, Elon University, Fisk University, Fort Lewis College, Hamilton College, Oglethorpe University, Otterbein University, Portland State University, Simmons University, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota-Morris, and University of New Mexico – Main Campus.

Xavier’s project is led by Dr. Gary Lewandowski (director, Provost Office), Diamond Brown (Center for Diversity & Inclusion), Dr. Liz Johnson (Computer Science), Mary Kochlefl (Associate Provost for Academic Excellence), Cara Pickett (Center for Teaching Excellence), Dr. Jen Robbins (Biology), and Sam Terry (Center for Diversity & Inclusion).