# SDSU FUERTE: Evaluation Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $110,211

## Abstract

EVALUATION CORE – Project Summary
The evaluation of the San Diego State University Faculty Unified towards Excellence in Research and
Transformational Engagement (SDSU FUERTE) program will test the primary hypothesis that a cohort and
cluster design model of faculty hiring, sponsorship, continual mentoring, and professional development,
embedded within an institution implementing evidence-based practices will create an academic culture of
inclusive excellence. In order to deliver on its promises, SDSU FUERTE requires a robust and rigorous
evaluation plan. To this end, the overall goals of the SDSU FUERTE Evaluation Core (EC) are twofold. First,
the EC will conduct a rigorous, comprehensive evaluation of the impact of SDSU FUERTE on producing
changes over time in SDSU faculty success (e.g., faculty advancement, peer-reviewed publications, and
grants) and the campus DEI climate. This will include baseline and follow-up assessments of the campus
climate before and after the SDSU FUERTE Faculty Cohort are brought to SDSU. Second, the EC will be
primarily responsible for communicating with the FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC), and with
providing ongoing, evidence-based recommendations to the AC, FDC, Internal Advisory Board (IAB), and
External Advisory Board (EAB) for continuous improvement and refinement of SDSU FUERTE activities. In
order to achieve robust and rigorous evaluation of SDSU FUERTE, the overall design of the evaluation plan
includes multiple data sources that will be triangulated using mixed methods analysis and repeated
measurements over time. The evaluation plan will also include process- and outcome-oriented analysis of data
collected from multiple levels – SDSU FUERTE Faculty Cohort, other SDSU faculty, departments/schools, and
the overall institution. By focusing on multiple levels and on changes over time, the evaluation plan is
comprehensive and will provide valuable data to inform the broad-reaching and sustainable impact of SDSU
FUERTE on faculty success outcomes and the DEI climate. The specific aims of the EC are to: 1) Evaluate the
impact of SDSU FUERTE at the individual (i.e., faculty), department/school, and institution (SDSU) levels on
faculty success (e.g., advancement, research productivity) and the DEI climate within departments/schools and
across SDSU using multiple data sources and mixed methods; 2) Test hypothesized mechanisms of change
(e.g., less perceived isolation, increased collaboration/team science) over time that explain how SDSU
FUERTE leads to improvements in faculty success outcomes and an institutionalized academic culture of DEI
excellence at SDSU; and 3) Implement ongoing feedback loops with FUERTE stakeholders (AC, FDC, IAB,
EAB) and the FIRST CEC to facilitate data-driven solutions for continued improvement of the program. To
meet these aims, specific data sources will include longitudinal quantitative survey data (every 12-months from
baseline to 48 months) with faculty members at SDSU...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10362386
- **Project number:** 1U54CA267789-01
- **Recipient organization:** SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Eileen Virtusio Pitpitan
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $110,211
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-21 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10362386

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10362386, SDSU FUERTE: Evaluation Core (1U54CA267789-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10362386. Licensed CC0.

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