Dr. Ayesha Boyce (Educational Research Methodology) received new funding from the University of Pittsburgh for the project “NSF INCLUDES Alliance: Strengthening Pre-college Programs as a Mechanism to Promote Equitable Access to University Admissions and Persistence in STEM.”
Dr. Ayesha Boyce, with assistance from associates from the UNC Greensboro School of Education, will serve as the external evaluator and will obtain the necessary IRB approval. Boyce will use a Values-Engaged, Educative evaluation approach (VEE) (Boyce, 2017; Greene, DeStefano, Burgon, & Hall, 2006). The VEE approach, developed with NSF-HER support, defines high-quality STEM educational programming as that which effectively incorporates cutting-edge scientific content, strong instructional pedagogy, and sensitivity to diversity and equity issues. The VEE evaluation approach encourages explicit attention to issues of diversity and equity, and responsiveness to the culture and context of the program. Specifically, the evaluator is called to examine the extent to which an education program is equitable or has equal opportunities for participation, meaningful learning, and accomplishment, particularly for those least well served in that context. Additionally, this approach seeks to educate stakeholders about their program while also engaging the perspectives, concerns, and values of all legitimate stakeholders, including those traditionally unheard and underrepresented in the evaluation context.
