Bradley University Receives Prestigious $1 Million NSF ADVANCE Program Grant

Grant will help Bradley promote diversity and equity in STEM fields.

Contact: Libby Derry | Bradley University Exec. Director of Communications & Media Relations | lderry@bradley.edu

(August 7, 2023 | Peoria, IL) – Bradley University has been awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation's ADVANCE program. This highly competitive grant is a significant recognition of the university's commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

The NSF ADVANCE program aims to address the underrepresentation of women and minority groups in academic STEM careers and to support the advancement of diverse faculty members into leadership roles. ADVANCE stands for Advocating Diversity and the Need for Cultural Exchange.

"This grant is a testament to our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity.” said Walter Zakahi, Ph.D., Bradley University Provost. “By investing in our faculty, we are investing in the future of STEM education and research. Bradley is proud to be at the forefront of driving positive change in academia."

This prestigious grant will enable Bradley University to implement targeted initiatives that empower faculty members to thrive and excel in their careers – complimenting work already underway through Bradley’s Advancing and Maintaining Equity in STEM (AMES) program.

Jacqueline Hogan, Ph.D., the principal investigator for the grant and Bradley faculty member, expressed her enthusiasm about the grant's potential impact.

"We are thrilled to receive this generous funding from the NSF ADVANCE program,” said Hogan. “This grant will enable us to strengthen our efforts in creating an inclusive and equitable environment within the STEM fields at Bradley. By supporting the professional growth and development of our diverse faculty, we aim to foster a supportive community that values the unique perspectives and talents of all its members."

Institutional research by Bradley’s Faculty Gender Equity Task Force identified equity issues that Bradley’s AMES program is addressing, now with additional support from the NSF ADVANCE program. AMES is committed to creating high-impact and sustainable institutional changes to advance equity and inclusion through three initiatives:

• An Equity Dashboard will allow Bradley to better track DEI outcomes and create mechanisms for accountability and ongoing improvement.
• The TPR Revision initiative will engage campus stakeholders in discussions around revision of tenure, promotion, and retention (TPR) policies and protocols to promote transparency and equity.
• The FARR (Faculty Annual Review Revision) initiative will engage the campus in discussions about revision of faculty annual review, teaching evaluations, and reward mechanisms such as merit pay.

“The NSF grant will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for accelerated growth and advancement,” added Hogan. “This will reinforce Bradley’s position as a trailblazing institution dedicated to excellence in STEM education and research.

For more information about the AMES program or the NSF ADVANCE program grant, visit www.bradley.edu/ADVANCEBU.