Inclusive Excellence

The HHMI Inclusive Excellence initiative challenges U.S. colleges and universities to substantially and sustainably increase their capacity for inclusion of all students, especially those students who belong to groups underrepresented in science.

IE3 Competition

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For Current Grantees

Overview
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IE Institutions

Our challenge

The dynamic demographics of the US population present a historic and compelling opportunity. All students, regardless of where they come from and where they are going, deserve a meaningful and positive experience in science through which they will better understand and engage in scientific thinking and discovery. The quality of that experience is the responsibility of the faculty and administrators who play an essential role in defining an institution’s culture.

Unfortunately, there exist substantial disparities between students who arrive at college via different pathways. Students who are first in their families to attend college, students who transfer from 2-year to 4-year schools, and students from racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups underrepresented in science are significantly less likely to complete the baccalaureate degree.

Our approach

We aim to create a learning community of college and university faculty and administrators who are engaged in the continuing process of increasing their institution’s capacity for inclusion of all students. Each school in the community will commit to learning through reflection, sharing what is being learned, listening to feedback, and supporting other members of the community.

Our IE community

A total of 57 colleges and universities are now part of the IE learning community. Faculty and staff at these schools provide national leadership in science education, and are engaged in exploring strategies that will lead to inclusive science education. A third competition, IE3, which begins in the spring 2019, will add up to 30 new members to the IE community.

HHMI Inclusive Excellence 2018 Institutions Map

Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) institutions will join a broader community of universities and colleges that have been engaged in the work of building capacity for inclusion and equity for all students in science. As a part of the learning community, grantees will be able to exchange strategies and experiences, approaches for ongoing assessment and evaluation, and resources developed by the IE institutions.

IE community participants have multiple opportunities to learn from one another, engage in professional development activities, and explore areas of interest to support their work. This takes place through i) annual IE community meetings at HHMI; ii) smaller, regional gatherings of Peer Implementation Clusters (PICs); and iii) via an online listserv for Program Directors. HHMI provides additional funds to support annual gatherings of PICS. Finally, HHMI gives grantees an opportunity each year to communicate and share their reflections on their ongoing lessons learned and where necessary, recalibrate approaches.

IE institutions have the opportunity to present their work to a network of higher education stakeholders committed to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in science through national conferences and other gatherings[1].

[1] Some examples include: the AAC&U Diversity, Equity, and Student Success Conference; AAC&J Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference; ASCN Transforming Institutions Conference; AAC&U PKAL STEM Regional Meetings.

HHMI invites eligible institutions to submit a pre-proposal for Inclusive Excellence 3; only one pre-proposal per institution is allowed. To be eligible for Inclusive Excellence 3, an institution must meet all of the following requirements:

Be a not-for-profit, four-year college or university in the United States in one of the following Basic Classification categories as identified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching:
- Baccalaureate Colleges – arts and sciences focus and diverse fields
- Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges – mixed baccalaureate/associate's
- Master's Colleges and Universities – larger, medium, and smaller programs
- Doctoral/Research Universities – very high research activity (R1), high research activity (R2), and doctoral/professional universities (R3)
- Tribal College
Offer and confer four-year baccalaureate degrees in the natural sciences or offer a single baccalaureate degree that is inclusive of the natural sciences. Natural sciences typically comprise the following disciplines: astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth and geosciences, and physics, as do disciplines that are combinations of these fields, such as biochemistry, geophysics, or microbiology. Computer sciences, psychology, mathematics, and allied health-related fields are examples of disciplines that are not traditionally defined as natural sciences. However, that does not mean these other disciplines cannot be involved (see frequently asked questions).
Be accredited and in good standing with the appropriate regional accrediting organization.
Not a 2017 or 2018 HHMI Inclusive Excellence grant recipient.

Eligible institutions are invited to submit an Intent to Apply by the end of July 2019. The Intent to Apply is the first step to confirm eligibility and identify the individual from each school who will be responsible for the Pre-proposal. Successful submission of Intent to Apply is required in order to gain access to the Pre-proposal application. Finalists selected by HHMI from the pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal.

For full details on application process, dates, and answers to common questions, read our Competition page.

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Arizona State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: James Collins Read abstract
Bates College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Paula Schlax Read abstract
Brandeis University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Irving Epstein Read abstract
California State University, Los Angeles Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Andre Ellis Read abstract
California State University, San Marcos Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: George Vourlitis Read abstract
Chaminade University of Honolulu Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Helen Turner Read abstract
Davidson College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Barbara Lom Read abstract
Delaware State University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Vincent Fondong Read abstract
DePauw University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Jacqueline Roberts Read abstract
Framingham State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Catherine Dignam Read abstract
Humboldt State University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Amy Sprowles Read abstract
James Madison University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Timothy Bloss Read abstract
Kalamazoo College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: James Langeland Read abstract
Kennesaw State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Scott Reese Read abstract
Kenyon College Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: John Hofferberth Read abstract
Lawrence Technological University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Melinda Weinstein Read abstract
Lawrence University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Stefan Debbert Read abstract
Mercy College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Jose Herrera Read abstract
Mount Mary University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Lynn Diener Read abstract
Norfolk State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Ashley Haines Read abstract
North Carolina State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Vicki Martin Read abstract
Northeastern University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Mary Jo Ondrechen Read abstract
Oberlin College Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Marta Laskowski Read abstract
Oregon State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Martin Storksdieck Read abstract
Radford University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: J. Orion Rogers Read abstract
Rochester Institute of Technology Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Scott Franklin Read abstract
Roosevelt University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Kelly Wentz–Hunter Read abstract
San Francisco State University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Kimberly Tanner Read abstract
Stony Brook University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Ross Nehm Read abstract
Syracuse University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: George Langford Read abstract
The College of New Jersey Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Jeffrey Osborn Read abstract
Towson University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Laura Gough Read abstract
Trinity Washington University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Cynthia DeBoy Read abstract
Tufts University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Roger Tobin Read abstract
University of California, Davis Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Marc Facciotti Read abstract
University of California, Los Angeles Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Tracy Johnson Read abstract
University of California, Merced Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Jennifer Manilay Read abstract
University of Colorado Denver Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Richard Allen Read abstract
University of Houston, Downtown Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Akif Uzman Read abstract
University of Illinois at Chicago Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Henrik Aratyn Read abstract
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Elizabeth Connor Read abstract
University of Missouri, Columbia Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Marcelle Siegel Read abstract
University of Northern Colorado Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Susan Keenan Read abstract
University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Lilliam Casillas-Martinez Read abstract
University of St. Thomas Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Melissa Loe Read abstract
University of South Dakota Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Brian Burrell Read abstract
University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Saraswathy Nair Read abstract
University of Utah Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Holly Godsey Read abstract
University of Wisconsin, Madison Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Janet Branchaw Read abstract
Utah State University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Alan Savitzky Read abstract
Vassar College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Jodi Schwarz Read abstract
Virginia Commonwealth University Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Rosalyn Hargraves Read abstract
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Jill Sible Read abstract
Washington University in St. Louis Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Regina Frey Read abstract
Wellesley College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Megan Núñez Read abstract
Western Washington University Inclusive Excellence / 2017–Present Program Director: Joann Otto Read abstract
Wheaton College Inclusive Excellence / 2018–Present Program Director: Meg Kirkpatrick Read abstract