(Black PR Wire) North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) School of Education has been awarded $1.1 million from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to create training programs to develop a more diverse field of top-quality education researchers.

NCCU is among four minority-serving universities across the nation awarded grants under the newly formed IES Pathways to the Education Sciences Research Training Program. The Pathways program was launched in 2015 to increase the number of students who are prepared to pursue doctoral study in the education sciences, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, the economically disadvantaged, veterans, and those with disabilities.

“Pathways to Education Sciences provides an excellent opportunity and gateway for students enrolled at North Carolina Central University to pursue doctoral program in education research,” said Dr. Johnson O. Akinleye, NCCU provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Its goals fit well within our mission of expanding opportunity for a diverse population of students in higher education and enhancing NCCU’s ability to engage and create an innovative learning experience for all students.”

The award will allow NCCU to partner with Duke University and University of North Carolina Wilmington to launch the Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE), a program that will enroll approximately 60 upper-level undergraduate students to focus on inequities in American education, especially those affecting African-American and Hispanic students.

“North Carolina Central University’s School of Education is elated to be a part of this project,” said Dr. Audrey W. Beard, interim dean of the NCCU School of Education. “The grant will enable us to respond to diversity needs that are critical to the academic success of so many students, while also preparing NCCU education majors for academic and career advancement.”

As part of the year-long training program, participants will receive education research training, conduct research with peers and faculty mentors, as well as receive assistance in career development and applying to doctoral programs. An eight-week summer research institute is also part of the initiative.

“The goal of the Pathways training program is to create a pipeline of education researchers who will bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to the field,” said Thomas Brock, Commissioner of the National Center for Education Research, the IES center that administers the Pathways program.

“This is particularly important given the need for trustworthy, reliable evidence to help our nation’s schools improve. We look forward to learning from this first set of grantees and continuing to support efforts to diversify and strengthen the education sciences.”