A new partnership will give Eastern Washington University more resources to recruit and retain faculty members from underrepresented populations.
EWU has received “affiliate” partner status as a non-doctoral (PhD) granting institution with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. Although Eastern offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), SREB typically works with research universities that offer multiple doctoral programs.
This partnership, initiated through EWU’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, is a vehicle that will assist the university in the diversification of faculty through participation in SREB’s Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring. The conference is the largest gathering of minority doctoral scholars in the country.
“The Institute is a proven method to recruit diverse faculty,” Dr. Shari Clarke, vice president for Diversity and Inclusion at EWU said in an April 12 news release. “Our active participation and engagement will visibly demonstrate the opportunities for professional growth, research and scholarship within the academy available at EWU for underrepresented faculty.”
In addition to attending the annual Institute, the partnership will enable EWU to receive campus consultations, administrative services and have access to SREB’s scholarly directory.
“I fully expect by working with EWU, our first “affiliate” partner, there will be other services that will be added to the offerings,” Dr. Ansley Abraham, SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program Director said. Abraham believes that Eastern’s participation in this program will open up more opportunities for graduates of the Institute.
In addition to addressing goals in Eastern’s overall strategic plan, Clarke points out the new partnership supports the university’s Diversity Strategic Plan as well, including increased recruitment of underrepresented faculty.
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