# Faculty Initiative for Improved Recruitment, Retention, and Experience (FIIRRE)

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2022 · $446,994

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Diversity enhances creativity and innovation in research, but biomedical research institutions have generally
failed to effectively incorporate minoritized groups, such as individuals who identify as people of color, women,
and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) persons. Earlier diversity efforts
focused exclusively on intensified recruitment of minoritized faculty, mentoring, and training, but many
institutions did not sustain their success because of insufficient change in institutional environments, systems,
and culture. Over the past two years, the leadership of the University of South Carolina (UofSC) has been
intentional about transforming the institutional culture to one that embraces and expects a climate of diversity,
equity, and inclusion (DEI). UofSC’s Strategic Plan, released in 2020, includes eight priorities which were
developed, vetted, and revised with intense participation of the campus community. The priorities include
Strategic Priority #2 “Assemble and cultivate a world class faculty and staff” and #4 “Cultivate a more diverse,
equitable and inclusive campus culture.” UofSC has demonstrated increased commitment to diversity in
multiple ways, including hiring UofSC’s first Black/African American Provost and elevating the Chief Diversity
Officer to the level of a Vice President. These efforts reflect UofSC’s campaign to identify and remove factors
supporting systemic racism and gender-bias across all campus endeavors. In response to RFA-RM-21-025,
we have developed the Faculty Initiative for Improved Recruitment, Retention & Experience (FIIRRE) using a
systems science informed multi-level approach. FIIRRE aims to: (1) Develop, cultivate, and implement
institutional programs and practices that become self-reinforcing in promoting inclusive excellence; (2) Achieve
significant and sustainable institutional culture change that supports inclusive excellence; (3) Recruit, nurture,
and retain a cohort of ten new tenure-track Assistant Professors who are committed to inclusive excellence;
and (4) Collaborate with other FIRST awardees and the FIRST Coordination and Evaluation Center in this
multi-center initiative. The 10 tenure-track faculty will constitute the FIRST cohort at UofSC and will be
recruited as a cluster hire within the area of health disparities and equity research. The FIIRRE Administrative
Core, Faculty Development Core, and the Evaluation Core serve complementary purposes in support of these
overarching aims. Initiated by two of UofSC’s leading health science units, the Arnold School of Public Health
and the College of Nursing, FIIRRE will serve as an incubator and facilitator of institutional change. FIIRRE
leadership is varied in race/ethnicity, academic rank, nationality, and institutional history, with over a decade of
experience working together in research and administrative capacities, helping to ensure FIIRRE’s success.
Strong existing connections with established d...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10493577
- **Project number:** 1U54CA272171-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Coretta M. Jenerette
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $446,994
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10493577

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10493577, Faculty Initiative for Improved Recruitment, Retention, and Experience (FIIRRE) (1U54CA272171-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10493577. Licensed CC0.

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