The Appalachian College Association will receive a $921,168 grant from the National Science Foundation for an ADVANCE Partnership project titled Appalachian Colleges Collaborating for Equity. This initiative aims to address the significant challenge of hiring and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM faculty positions, particularly at small rural institutions in the Appalachian region. The project will begin in the fall of 2023, and will offer programming through September of 2026.
The Appalachian Colleges Collaborating for Equity project will offer professional development programs, peer mentoring, and academic leadership training tailored to the unique needs of faculty at small rural institutions. "Our goal is to create an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion for women and underrepresented STEM faculty," said Beth Rushing, President of the Appalachian College Association. "By offering enhanced career support for individual faculty and fostering systemic changes in institutional policies, we aim to empower faculty members and drive transformative institutional change for faculty." Dr. Rushing will serve as the Principal Investigator alongside Co-PIs Dr. Grant Willhite (Tennessee Wesleyan University) and Dr. Carey Ruiz (Campbellsville University).
The ADVANCE program by the National Science Foundation (NSF) aims to foster gender equity by identifying and eliminating organizational barriers impeding the full participation and advancement of diverse faculty in academic institutions. Organizational barriers may exist in policies, processes, practices, and the organizational culture and climate. ADVANCE “Partnership" awards support the adaptation and adoption of evidence-based strategies in higher education and non-academic nonprofit organizations.
The Appalachian College Association (ACA) has partnered with the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) to improve financial education quality, access, and impact for students attending ACA member institutions. NEFE will provide almost $1.5 million to support ACA’s implementation of financial education programs and services tailored to the unique needs of the ACA's 77,000 students.
The Appalachian College Association (ACA) has received a generous $39,000 grant from the Lyrasis Catalyst Fund. This grant will propel ACA's goal to establish an institutional digital repository for its member institutions, fostering collaboration and innovative strategies in an era of uncertainty and resource challenges.
The Catalyst Fund grant will be utilized to develop a comprehensive planning process for a shared Institutional Repository (IR). This initiative will empower member institutions to pool their resources and expertise, enhancing access to critical educational materials and promoting a collaborative spirit among all stakeholders. "The future of higher education calls for unity and shared vision among academic institutions. ACA is determined to lead the way in creating a robust process for developing large consortial projects, enabling our member institutions to flourish collectively," said Dr. Beth Rushing, President of the Appalachian College Association.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Lyrasis Catalyst Fund on this landmark project. The support received will enable us to build a plan for a stronger foundation for our member institutions, ultimately benefitting students and the development of academic excellence," added Heather Tompkins, Director of Library programs of the Bowen Central Library of Appalachia (BCLA).