Pathways North Carolina Central University: The Research Institute for Scholars of Equity

• In Event: Promoting Diversity Through Pathways in the Preparation of Educational Researchers: Intersectionality of Thought and Action

Abstract

North Carolina Central University. The Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE) at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is designed to provide upper-level undergraduate students and recent graduates with experiences in conducting mixed-methods education research while preparing participants for doctoral study. The training program includes faculty mentors and students from these two universities, in addition to a limited number of students and faculty mentors from collaborating institutions.

The interdisciplinary training program's theme focuses on the ongoing inequities in education found in American schooling, especially for preK-20 African American and Latino/a students. As part of the year-long RISE training program, fellows receive training in education research, conduct research with peers and faculty mentors, and receive assistance in applying to doctoral programs.

One core feature of the fellowship is the eight-week summer research institute in which fellows are introduced to critical race theory (as well as mixed-methods research techniques) as a means of studying issues such as teacher quality, education policy, and race and social justice in education. In addition to coursework, fellows will conduct several short research projects and begin conducting research related to the RISE theme as part of research interest groups (RIGs) under the supervision of their faculty mentors. Fellows continue to conduct research through their RIGs during the academic year.

For participation in the training program, fellows receive a stipend, housing and a meal plan for the summer research institute, and complementary access to an online GRE preparation program. RISE also provides a small allowance to cover travel costs to and from the summer training institute.

A primary purpose of all Pathways training programs is to help increase diversity in the Education Sciences. RISE represents a partnership between two colleges within the University of North Carolina System that provide graduate training in education—one of which is a historically black university. Each year RISE recruits several fellows from each of these two campuses, plus additional fellows from other collaborating institutions across the country. Participating faculty represent a variety of disciplines including education, economics, African American studies, urban policy and sociology. (https://ies.ed.gov/ncer/projects/grant.asp?ProgID=95&year=2016&grantid=1794 )

Author

• Wynetta Lee, North Carolina Central University
  Presenting Author