The California Hispanic Serving Institution Research Collaboration Conference: A Review Article By Dr Elizabeth J Wider, RN, MSN, EdD California State University, Dominguez Hills The U.S Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Title V Programs provides grants to assist HSIs to increase educational opportunities for Hispanic students, and improve higher education attainment The HSI Program grants also enable HSIs to enrich their academic programs and enhance program quality The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) amended Section 503(b) of the Higher Education Act to include, the authorized activities under the HSI Program These activities are focused on improving student services, with innovative courses designed to retain and progress students into core courses; articulation agreements and student support programs designed to facilitate the transfer of students from two-year to four-year institutions; and providing education, counseling services, and financial information designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students and their families HSIs are defined as institutions of higher education with 25% of the undergraduate population of Hispanic heritage The California Hispanic Serving Institution Research Collaboration Conference held Fortunately, the future of programs like February 20 – 21, 2013 at the Disneyland Hotel, focused ADVANCE and PAID is optimistic by way of funding on the best practices for educational institutions to opportunities supporting centers and programs like the collaborate on research projects, toward achieving the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics goals of the Department of Education’s HSIs Title V Talent Expansion Program Centers (STEP Centers); the program The following is a presentation of the highlights Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, from the HSI conference hosted by Dr Barbara Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (TUES); and Endemano Walker, Director of Research Development for Dr the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Dr Jose the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Fine Arts, UC Santa Barbara Endemano Walker Herrera, Program Director at the NSF in the Division of Barbara Undergraduate Education (DUE), presented encouraging The two day HSI conference provided information regarding the success of the STEP, TUES, significant information regarding grant opportunities and and NOYCE programs as collaborative funding best practices for collaborative research ventures The opportunities for higher educational institutions These Key Note Speaker, Dr Sally Rockey, Deputy Director for programs focus on supporting undergraduate Science, Extramural Research, National Institute of Health, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) programs presented discerning information regarding the status of in order to enhance the teaching and learning, and the women as principle investigators (PIs), and the need for advancement of undergraduate students to credentialed Kincreased diversity and training for doctorate level 12 teachers Dr Herrera’s presentation was exemplary of researchers According to Dr Rockey, only 27% of the cyclicality effect of higher education on K-12, and Kresearch proposals are submitted by women PIs Sighting 12 on higher education, demonstrating the means to the the Donna Ginther (2001) research titled, “Economic goals of improving educational opportunities Hispanic Explanations for the gender gap in Science”, Dr Rockey and all underrepresented students confirmed the gender gap continues to be a significant Dr John Rand, Program Director (Rotator) in the factor for scientific researchers The severe lack of Human Resources Division of the NSF, Louis Stakes diversity within the scientific community, led to program Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) presented initiatives like the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s another program vital to the success of underrepresented Advancement of Women in Academic Science and students, the "Bridge to the Baccalaureate Alliances" Engineering Careers (ADVANCE) (B2B) The B2B is a program designed to support Dr Beth Mitchneck, Lead Program Director for community college partnerships with universities, toward ADVANCE at NSF, presented critical information the transfer of underrepresented minority STEM students regarding the ADVANCE program One vital point of to four-year institutions for STEM baccalaureate degrees interest provide by Dr Mitchneck, is that ADVANCE is Crucial for the purposes of funding, the LSAMP offers now open to all faculty, versus only tenure track faculty research development grant sub-awards to the aligning Dr Mitchneck identified the Partnerships for Adaptation institution Without the identification of these and other Implementation and Dissemination (PAID) program, as a grant opportunities, the goal of HSI would remain means to support administrators, deans, and chairs in the impeded advancement of gender equity and diversity regarding the The program officers from the U.S Department office, duties and appointment of professors Although of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy Laboratory ADVANCE and PAID are exciting programs, the reality system (DoE), and Department of Education underscored is, unless early education is supported by higher the wide range of funding opportunities through these education, the goals of ADVANCE and PAID will remain agencies and key information regarding how to lethargic successfully receive funding awards For example, Dr Irma Lawrence, who serves as the USDA National Program Leader for the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education grants programs, emphasized the need to demonstrate how collaboration with the USDA will be incorporated into the project, when writing USDA grant proposals Dr John P Knezovich the Director of the University Relations & Science Education at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) stressed how world renowned laboratories are available in California, for collaboration as research sites Collaboration with renowned research laboratories has a positive influence on funding awardees Mr Peter Fusscas the Senior Program Officer at the Department of Education in the Hispanic – Serving Institutions Division provided vital information regarding cooperative grants Specifically, Mr Fusscas pointed out how cooperative grants are awarded to universities that already have Title V grants and more importantly, partner institutions not have to meet the FTE or designation requirements of the HSI program Furthermore, there are no geographic restrictions for the partners The information provided by the aforementioned speakers, broadened the spectrum for researcher funding opportunities Other program directors and managers offered promising information regarding funding opportunities Ms Erica Teofilo the Minority Serving Institutions Program Manager at the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) encouraged researchers to conduct research overseas and to pursue sub- and associate grant opportunities with other institutions Dr Michael Bender, Program Director in the Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the National Institute of General Medical Science (NIGMS) encouraged researchers to identify other colleges with educational programs, research goals, and comparable grants of interest, for potential collaboration Dr Judith Arroyo the Minority Health and Health Disparities Coordinator in the Office of the Director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Additions (NIAA) for the National Institute of Health (NIH) highlighted the advantages of planning grants as a means to establishment and sustaining future research projects The second day of the conference focused on best collaboration practices Speakers from California Universities presented significant criterion as a “recipe for success”, with effective collaborative approaches, the operative theme Dr Cynthia Herrera, Project Director of the Department of Education Title V HSI STEM and Articulation Grant at Oxnard College emphasized the need for transformational leadership, who are innovative risk takers Another extremely important key point Dr Herrera presented, is the need to build research objectives into the curriculum Dr Dotti Pak the Education Director of the UCSB Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) accentuated the importance of real collaboration and benefits between the institution According to Dr Pak, successful collaboration can be achieved when a strong research sphere link is identified at each institution, thus increasing the benefits for both institutions For example, one institution has a focus on research and the other focuses on research application All of the speakers for the last day of the conference emphasized student involvement; however Dr Mohsen Beheshti who really solidified the point Dr Beheshti is the Director of the Center for Excellence in Knowledge Management and Computational Science (CECS), and Professor of Computer Science at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Dr Beheshti is also the director of the Computer Science Research Lab (CSRL) conducting exemplary research in Intrusion Detection system and Data Mining, in collaboration with other faculty and undergraduate/graduate students He has developed new graduate and undergraduate programs with the sole purpose to better prepare student for the workforce and future studies Dr Beheshti has received numerous grants to advance technology in education; and has hosted a series of workshops for high school teachers to further promote computer science to high school students Dr Beheshti is clearly dedicated to student attainment and achievement Dr Beheshti presented invaluable key concepts for the novice and seasoned PI He encourages membership with consortiums, which can lead to establishing a campus research center Again, with the focus on the student, Dr Beheshti encourages PI’s to involve students in research, beginning at the undergraduate level The most compelling advice Dr Beheshti presented, were the best practices to engage students These practices include supporting student clubs/association through faculty advisement, mentoring students, faculty roll modeling, nurturing students, and encouraging multidisciplinary collaboration Dr Beheshti recommends to always involving students in research projects to provide valuable research experience, and as a way to encourage future researchers The California Hispanic Serving Institution Research Collaboration Conference proved to be a very exciting, motivational, experience and opportunity Dr Barbara Endemano Walker successfully provided a forum for high quality information and collaborative opportunities The breakout sessions during the first day of the conference enabled networking, facilitated by exemplary program directors with successful collaborative histories Additionally, at the end of the second day, opportunities for one-to-one meetings with program officers were available The HSI conference was truly a success, from the accommodations to renowned speakers, who presented information clearly in a manner even the novice investigator can grasp The conference was ultimately a learning and collaborative opportunity for everyone in attendance A special thanks to Dr Barbara Endemano Walker for coordinating a conference that presented and exemplified key collaborative practices Important Links: California State University, Dominguez Hills: Center for Excellence in Knowledge Management & Computational Science (CECS): http://csc.csudh.edu/?q=node/44 Center for Science Review Website: http://public.csr.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx Center for Urban Education: http://cue.usc.edu/ Clinical Translation Science Awards (CTSA): https://www.ctsacentral.org/about-us/ctsa Department of Education: Developing HispanicServing Institutions Program Title V: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.ht ml Department of Energy Laboratory System (DOE): Funding opportunities: http://energy.gov/public-services/fundingopportunities Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP): http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf 12564/nsf12564.htm National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS): http://www.nigms.nih.gov National Institutes of Health (NIH): nih.gov National Institutes of Health (NIH): Funding opportunities: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/ National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS): Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) (K12): http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/CareerDev/T WDInstRes.htm National Science Foundation (NSF): ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers (ADVANCE) http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp? pims_id=5383&org=NSF&sel_org=XCUT&fro m=fund National Science Foundation (NSF): Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF 13-1 http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp? pims_id=504720 Translational Applications of Nanoscale Multiferroic Systems (TANMS): http://www.tanms.ucla.edu/ Translational Applications of Nanoscale Multiferroic Systems (TANMS): ‘Cradle-to-Career': http://www.tanms.ucla.edu/education.htm University of California, Davis School of Education Edward Teller Education Center: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL): http://etec.llnl.gov/ University of California, Santa Barbara: Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM): http://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/education/undergrad/pr em U S Agency for International Development (USAID): usaid.gov U S Agency for International Development (USAID): All Children Reading: Grand Challenges for Development http://usaid.gov/what-wedo/education/improving-early-grade-reading U S Agency for International Development (USAID) Grants: http://usaid.gov/who-we- are/resourceportal U S Department of Agriculture (USDA): Hispanic Serving Institutions Education Grants: https://www.cfda.gov/?s=program&mode=fo rm&tab=step1&id=28cce109dfe98d7bf8166 f2c9658d11d U.S Department of Education (2011) Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Programs – Title V Definition of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/definition html