FIU leads higher education dialogue in D.C.

By Juliana Narvaez

In the same week that saw FIU rise in national rankings, and just days before its 50^th anniversary, the university partnered with the Chronicle of Higher Education to convene leaders around twin challenges facing research universities today: increasing student success and achieving research impact.

The “Balancing Student Success and Research Achievement” panel was held Sept. 15 in FIU’s D.C. location with more than 20 university presidents, chancellors, provosts and vice presidents in attendance. The event took place during Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week and welcomed representatives from the recently launched Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Research Universities and participants from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

FIU’s hosting of the event, which featured both Interim President Kenneth A. Jessell and Interim Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Béjar, corresponded with the university’s status as one of the nation’s most diverse institutions of higher education and its designation as a Carnegie R1 research university, which puts it among the top 3% of U.S. institutions in terms of research productivity.

“When we look back at our last five years at FIU, we have over one billion dollars in research expenditures,” Béjar said. “We are the largest producer of Hispanic bachelors and masters’ candidates in the United States. We are in the Top 10 in producing African American graduates. So that is part of who we are.”

Discussion focused on how to incorporate more undergraduate students into research initiatives. Many universities have long embraced a dual focus on educating their students while advancing research that addresses critical problems such as global health crises, the consequences of climate change and others. 

“This is an important time in our country and it's a very important time in the lives of our students,” said Sarita Brown, president of the nonprofit research institute Excelencia in Education. “They are pursuing higher education and they're doing so recognizing the world that they are going to move into is more complicated than ever before.”

Panelists called for a comprehensive approach that addresses the needs of underrepresented students in the classroom and beyond.

“How are we bringing that intention into everything that we’re designing?” asked Jennifer Cowley, president at the University of Texas at Arlington. “In our co-curricular experiences, in those job opportunities that we're creating for our students, whether that be in internships or research experiences, how are we making sure that we are creating the pathway to success that our students need?”

University leaders at top institutions are working toward a triad of critical goals that includes progression on academic excellence, research impact and social mobility. FIU has in recent years drawn attention for its high marks in all three. FIU is now the fastest rising in national public university rankings over the past decade, Top 5 in social mobility and Top 15 among the most innovative universities.

The Chronicle of Higher Education’s panel was just one of several events that took place at the expanded, recently relocated FIU in Washington, D.C., location, which showcases the impact of FIU research, provides students with engaged academic experiences and internships and convenes national partners for meaningful conversations across a broad range of issues. Other activities included an alumni night in celebration of the university’s 50th anniversary, with Jessell in attendance, and another panel on “Advancing Scientific Discovery and America’s Economy.” The latter explored the intersection of federal policy and private entrepreneurship and examined and the role of inclusive STEM education in talent development for the research and policy sectors. 

Hear some added perspective from a few of the dialogue’s participants:

Cynthia Larive, Chancellor, University of California Santa Cruz

Jennifer Cowley, President, University of Texas Arlington

Sarita Brown, President, Excelencia in Education

Ted Wells, Vice President, External Engagement, STEMConnector