Catalyzing Systemic Change at Drexel University to Support Diverse Faculty in Health Disparities Research

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PROJECT SUMMARY The Evaluation Core (EC) for the Drexel FIRST Program has as its main goal to evaluate, using mixed methods, and in coordination with the FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center, multi-level outcomes (individual, mentors, department, institution) including an evaluation of scientific impact of the FIRST Faculty hires. The efforts of the EC are grounded in theoretical frameworks reflecting equity, inclusivity and intersectionality, and are guided by a logic model conceptualizing our change efforts, the activities planned to contribute to desired changes, the immediate outputs and ultimate outcomes that will be tracked and documented. Specifically the EC will: (1) work closely with the designated FIRST “Coordination and Evaluation Center” to help design and implement a uniform and systematic core data set across FIRST Program awardees; (2) develop and implement an evaluation strategy specific to Drexel FIRST Program activities; (3) provide formative evaluative reports to the Coordination and Evaluation Center and our Administrative and Faculty Development Cores to inform programmatic adjustments and improvements; and (4) evaluate impacts at multiple levels (individual FIRST faculty hire, department, college and institution) of Drexel’s FIRST Cohort hires on outcomes ranging from individual ratings of inclusivity and social isolation to organizational readiness and climate. Furthermore, we will evaluate scientific impact of FIRST faculty in advancing the science of health disparities research using the National Institute of Minority Health and Disparities framework to identify domains and levels addressed in their scholarship. Finally, as our long-term goal is to sustain a research culture of inclusive excellence, the EC will establish an approach including tracking tools for continuous institutional self-assessment, analysis and feedback, assuring accountability and integration of the FIRST Program into the fabric of institutional life at Drexel during the life of the grant and thereafter. The specific aims of the Evaluation Core are: (1) To characterize and track the various components that compose the FIRST program at Drexel University; (2) To evaluate the impact of the FIRST program at Drexel on institutional outcomes including organizational research climate and implementation and adoption of FIRST strategies, policies, and processes to promote inclusive excellence; (3) To evaluate the impact of the FIRST program at Drexel on outcomes defined at the level of the hiring academic units and the new faculty hires themselves, including unit culture, mentoring environment, sponsorship, other cohort experiences (social isolation, support) and career progression opportunities including productivity as reflected in publications, presentations, collaborative opportunities, grant submissions and funding successes; and (4) To evaluate the impact of the FIRST Cohort on advancing the science of health disparities research. Importantly, the EC will provide a summative evaluation as to whether we have achieved the goal of inclusive excellence of the Drexel FIRST Program and how it can be sustained beyond funding.