Building and Boosting Capacity in Higher Education: Lessons Learned from Institutions Serving Diverse Student Populations

• In Event: Balancing Acts and Breaking Walls: Centering Equity Amid Organizational Change and Complexity

Abstract

Broad institutional change requires strategic investment in capacity-building, particularly at campuses serving diverse student populations. This multiple case study examines a 10-year NIH-funded initiative to strengthen institutions' ability to train diverse STEMM research students. We analyzed 260 interviews and focus groups through a framework that proposed four categories of capacity building: human, organizational, structural, and material capacities. We examine how these types of capacity were built and introduce the concept of “capacity boosting” to capture secondary impacts of these efforts. This study offers insights for researchers, funders, and higher education leaders seeking to address resource inequities and support a more diverse scientific workforce.

Authors

• Naomi Stephen, University of California - Los Angeles

• Krystle Cobian, University of California - Los Angeles

• Ana L. Romero, University of California - Los Angeles

• Sylvia Hurtado, University of California - Los Angeles