SOUTH CAROLINA: SC INBRE institution to build inclusivity, belonging in STEM fields as part of $8.6M HHMI grant
SC EPSCoR institution, Furman University, is part of a 15-school cohort that has been awarded $8.625 million by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for the purpose of creating a more inclusive environment for students pursuing STEM fields.
The initiative, HHMI Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3), challenges US colleges and universities to substantially and sustainably build their capacity for student belonging, especially for those who have been historically excluded from the sciences.
Furman’s 15-member LCC, (aka LCC1) will focus on content of the introductory science experience. Specifically, the LCC will implement three coordinated projects: facilitate faculty training in the core values of equity, social justice, and inclusive pedagogy; elevate the student voice, improve the student experience and situate students as agents of change through engagement and leadership; and engage faculty, staff and students in the process of making sustainable changes to curricular offerings within introductory courses.
“This project will transform the student experience in STEM at Furman,” said Alison Roark, associate professor of biology and program director. “Our primary goals are to increase retention of students with historically disadvantaged identities, to cultivate a sense of belonging, and to facilitate student success in STEM.”
Roark is a former SC INBRE Developmental Research Project Program grant recipient.