American University School of Education Research News

March 2025

Research Support and Advisory Updates

Executive Orders and Anti-DEI Legislation

This section of the newsletter continues to provide resources for navigating the current challenges facing the research community:

OSARA: Maintaining Research Continuity in a Challenging Funding

American Educational Research Association: AERA recently learned that all restricted-use National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data licenses will be cancelled. Read the urgent request for all AERA members and others in the research community with restricted-use licenses. Read more here.

Successes

American University has been designated an R1 research university image

Research 1 Status: For the first time in its history, American University has received R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education—the nation’s leading framework for categorizing US higher education institutions. Read more.

SOE Impact: Undergraduate Research Flourishes at the School of Education

As part of AU’s transition to R1 status, the new Digital Research and Inquiry Lab invites you to a workshop series designed to boost your confidence in handling research data. Learn more and register here.

Do you want to expand your research portfolio? Have you had a conversation with a funder and are unsure of the next steps? Are you ready to apply for your first grant? If you have questions about the proposal process or want to brainstorm about research possibilities, please contact Monica Konschnik to schedule a time to meet.

AU's Office of Research

Societal Outcomes. Actionable Research: Symposium & Luncheon

Thursday, March 27 | 11 a.m. | MGC 128

The Translating Research into Action Center (TRAC) is hosting a moderated panel on public impact with 3 faculty members (Matt Hartings, SOE's Danielle Sodani, and Sauleh Siddiqi) as part of President Alger’s inauguration.

The SOAR Symposium will showcase innovative presentations and discussions focused on assessing the societal and economic impacts of research. Faculty experts will share their insights on methodologies, challenges, and strategies for effectively conceptualizing, designing, monitoring, and evaluating research impacts. Over lunch following the panel, participants will delve into the themes presented and discuss ways to enhance their ability to translate research into societal and economic benefits. This event aims to create a collaborative forum for the AU community, fostering an important dialogue and bolstering the university's leadership in the global push to enhance research for societal and economic impact.

Register

SOAR Assembly: Research for Societal Impact Showcase and Mixer

Friday, March 28 | 1 p.m. | Eric A. Friedheim Quadrangle

The Office of Research will be stationed on the Eric A. Friedheim Quadrangle during the Inauguration Picnic on Friday, March 28 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. and will showcase AU’s exceptional scholars through a gallery walk of poster sessions with faculty and students available for discussion.

The School of Education will be represented by:

o Dr. Carolyn Parker along with Dr. Barbara Balestra (CAS), Dr. Hannah Jardine (CTRL), and Dr. Dhananjaya Katju (CAS)

Problem-Based Learning to Support Elementary Teacher Candidates Learning and Teaching of Science

o Dr. Corbin Campbell (TRAC RICE Project)

Improving Public Trust in Higher Education: Teaching Excellence Colleges and Universities

New and Updated Resources from OSARA:

American University Award Lifecycle Image

Upcoming Deadlines

Spencer Foundation

The Small Research Grants on Education Program supports education research projects that will contribute to the improvement of education, broadly conceived, with budgets up to $50,000 for projects ranging from one to five years.

Application Deadline: April 16, 2025

Due to SOE: April 2, 2025

Apply

Panmure House Prize

The Panmure House Prize is an annual award of US$75,000 for research that explores the relationship between long-term thinking and radical innovation. The prize is awarded to emerging leaders in academia and enables research that embodies Adam Smith's own approach to rigorous empiricism and long-term, inter-disciplinary thinking.

Application Deadline: April 17, 2025

Due to SOE: April 3, 2025

Apply

William T. Grant Foundation

Research Grants on Reducing Inequality

This program supports research to build, test, or increase understanding of programs, policies, or practices to reduce inequality in the academic, social, behavioral, or economic outcomes of young people ages 5-25 in the US.

Application Deadline: May 7, 2025

Due to SOE: April 23, 2025

Apply

Events

March

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. ET

Join us for How Civil Discourse Shapes School Board Policy, a critical examination of how varied civil discourse fundamentally shapes and influences educational policy development within local governance structures; specifically, school boards. We will meet in person on Thursday, March 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the McDowell Formal Lounge. Our expert panel will explore how various forms of discourse influence local educational governance, policy development, and community engagement during challenging times. The discussion will focus on emerging political pressures, policy shifts, and their impact on students, educators, and communities in our region.

April

3 p.m. - 4 p.m. ET

Save the date for the next SOE Research Advisory & Support Group Meeting on April 10 at 3:00 p.m. in SVB 251 (with Zoom option). More details to follow.

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