Georgia Southern University is partnering with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), the leader in student success and equity through quality instruction, on a new national study made possible through a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Georgia Southern’s faculty will join more than 1,500 educators nationwide in a study to examine the relationship between evidence-based teaching practices, faculty mindset and student outcomes. In addition, up to 90 Georgia Southern faculty will have the opportunity to earn ACUE’s nationally recognized credential in effective teaching practices. Collectively, this will benefit more than 80,000 students.

Georgia Southern joins a total of 10 institutions all committed to providing a quality education for all of their students and to reducing barriers in gateway courses that perpetuate inequitable outcomes for Black, Latinx, Indigenous and Pell-eligible students.  

“We are honored that the Association of College and University Educators recognizes Georgia Southern’s dedication to helping students reach their full potential,” said Carl L. Reiber, Georgia Southern’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Student success is the first pillar in our strategic plan and guides most of our actions here. By participating in this new grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we can build on the foundation we have created with our momentum approach, which is designed especially to help our students through their crucial first years of college.”

“To date, our 18 studies have established an incontrovertible link between the evidence-based teaching of ACUE-credentialed faculty and improved grades, higher completion rates, and closed equity gaps by race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status,” said Meghan Snow, ACUE’s chief data officer. “With this new study, we can investigate these relationships in gateway courses—which are so consequential in a student’s academic career.”

Participating institutions also include:

• Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York 
• California State University, Northridge
• University of Hawai’i at Manoa
• University of Houston
• Ivy Tech Community College
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
• Ohio Association of Community Colleges, including Cincinnati State, Cuyahoga Community College, and Lorain County Community College

“Last summer, when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked to learn more about ACUE’s impact, we took them on a deep dive,” said Scott Durand, ACUE’s chief executive officer. “It was our honor to share compelling findings that ACUE-credentialed faculty close equity gaps and measurably improve student outcomes. This major national study we are thrilled to announce today was granted on that basis, to further explore the transformative impact faculty can have on student success when equipped with evidence-based teaching practices and digital tools.”

The study will begin in early 2022 with preliminary findings expected in early 2023.