Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Evidence-Based Teaching, Faculty Mindset, Student Outcomes the Subject of New National Study

  • 02/02/22
students working on computers

The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) is embarking on a major new study that will examine the relationship between evidence-based teaching practices, faculty mindset and student outcomes in gateway courses. The research initiative is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The study will build on existing evidence of the impact of evidence-based teaching on learning outcomes, explained Meghan Snow, chief data officer for ACUE, in a statement: "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. With this new study, we can investigate these relationships in gateway courses — which are so consequential in a student's academic career."

"Last summer, when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked to learn more about ACUE's impact, we took them on a deep dive," added ACUE CEO Scott Durand. "It was our honor to share compelling findings that ACUE-credentialed faculty close equity gaps and measurably improve student outcomes. This major national study that 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."

Ten institutions across the country will participate in the study. Their goal: to provide a quality education for all students and reduce "barriers in gateway courses that perpetuate inequitable outcomes for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Pell-eligible students," according to a news announcement. Those institutions are:

The study will begin in early 2022. It will involve more than 1,500 educators and impact 80,000-plus students nationwide. In addition, up to 700 faculty will have the opportunity to earn an ACUE credential in effective teaching practices. Preliminary findings are expected in 2023.

Featured

  • Profile silhouette of a person thoughtfully touching their chin, overlaid with transparent data visualizations and digital interface elements suggesting artificial intelligence and analytics.

    The Institutional Knowledge Shift Is Reshaping Higher Ed IT

    Higher education IT leaders are navigating a quiet but consequential transition: Experienced team members are retiring or leaving for private-sector roles, and the teams replacing them are smaller, newer, and often stretched thin. The result is a structural shift in how technology decisions are made, executed, and sustained.

  • Abstract energetic glowing lines with particles

    Meta Steps Up Enterprise AI Ambitions with Muse Spark Launch

    Meta has announced the launch of Muse Spark 1.1, a multimodal reasoning model designed for agentic AI, alongside a new Meta Model API that gives developers access to the model for the first time.

  • blue wooden cubes block texture abstract background

    Gartner Estimates Worldwide IT Spending at $6.31T for 2026

    Gartner recently forecast that worldwide IT spending will total $6.31 trillion in 2026, a 13.5% increase from 2025. Sectors experiencing the largest growth include data center systems, software, and IT services.

  • digital lock with circuit patterns

    IBM Announces New AI-Powered Cybersecurity Tools

    IBM has announced an expanded portfolio of AI-powered cybersecurity products, positioning the company to compete more aggressively in a rapidly evolving market where enterprises are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to defend against automated cyber threats.