# Evaluation Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $219,800

## Abstract

Project Summary (Evaluation Core)
The Cornell FIRST Evaluation Core will provide program evaluation of the Cornell FIRST Cohort program 
and work collaboratively with the FIRST CEC to ensure overall program evaluation and outcome tracking.
The proposed activities in this core address our Monitoring and Evaluation Initiative to critically assess the 
progress of the program, test our models to ensure that the above initiatives are generalizable, that they are 
implemented in an effective manner, and that lessons learned are incorporated throughout the program as it 
evolves. The activities of this core assess the primary NIH FIRST 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 foster a culture of
academic cultures of inclusive excellence. Assessing the primary NIH FIRST hypothesis requires a 
multi-faceted mixed-methods systems thinking approach. The Cornell FIRST Monitoring and Evaluation 
Initiative, in collaboration with the FIRST CEC, will follow a collaboratively developed program logic model 
and comprehensive evaluation plan. It will incorporate development and integration of program theory and 
program logic; integration of qualitative and quantitative mixed methods; the incorporation of a variety of 
stakeholders and participants; and both formative and summative design. We will do this by implementing 
Specific Aim #4 from the Overall Core, to evaluate and learn from our hiring, climate, and faculty 
development approaches by identifying which strategies and activities are most effective and sustainable at 
an institutional scale, by assessing and monitoring the FIRST programs and activities to ensure that they 
are meeting their planned goals, provide continuous learning and program improvement feedback to the 
Cornell Institutional Steering Committee to ensure the highest success of the FIRST cohort through the 
aims, strategies, and activities, and to ensure integration and synergy with FIRST CEC to facilitate overall 
FIRST program evaluation and outcome tracking. The evaluation will be carried out by a highly skilled team 
that includes two external evaluators with decades of equity focused evaluation experience in higher 
education, including experience evaluating the NIH Diversity Program Consortium.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10691583
- **Project number:** 5U54CA267738-02
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Avery August
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $219,800
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10691583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10691583, Evaluation Core (5U54CA267738-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10691583. Licensed CC0.

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