# UTEP FIRST Evaluation Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · 2024 · $200,124

## Abstract

The overarching goal of the UTEP FIRST Evaluation Core is to implement and institutionalize an evaluation
plan to assess and address the level of systemic change and achievement of inclusive excellence at UTEP. A
pragmatic and regionally- and institutionally-relevant mixed methods design will be applied to the formative and
summative evaluations (process and outcome) in relation to the NIH FIRST program objectives for advisory
board and stakeholder engagement, faculty recruitment training/capacity building, institutional capacity building
and sustainability. Faculty development, progression and retention milestones in relation to testing a cohort and
cluster model of recruitment and mentoring, and institutional transformation will be measured for needs and
resources assessment, equity assessment, DEI, and minority health disparities research. Evaluation plan goals
are aligned with assessing outputs, outcomes and impact related to the three NIH FIRST goals of: (1) fostering
sustainable institutional culture change; (2) promoting institutional inclusive excellence by hiring a diverse cohort
of new faculty; and (3) supporting faculty development, mentoring, sponsorship, and promotion. The specific
aims of the program evaluation are: Aim 1: To assess institutional infrastructure in relation to achieving intended
program outcomes for administrative and faculty development cores; Aim 2: To measure faculty development,
progression and retention outcomes from a cohort and cluster design model of faculty hiring, sponsorship,
continual mentoring, and professional development, embedded within UTEP and; Aim 3: To document collective
impact of DEI processes and policies that support URM faculty and enhance health disparities research at
departmental and institutional levels. Organizational needs and resources assessment and a Strengths
Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats [SWOT] analysis as part of process evaluation in Year 1, program
monitoring and outcome evaluation continuing with Replicability and sustainability evaluation incorporated
through Years 1-5, and institutionalizing program impact evaluation beyond the program Year 5 will be conducted
in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner while ensuring minorities spanning across racial/ethnic, sexual
and gender minorities, people with disabilities, immigrant and other special groups are included in program
implementation. Variables examined at baseline and annually include assessing needs assessment, faculty
recruitment, mentorship and recruitment activities implementation, fidelity of program design, mentor and mentee
satisfaction, administrators’ perspectives, best practices and lessons learned in implementation, and DEI
comparators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10857175
- **Project number:** 5U54CA280922-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- **Principal Investigator:** Guadalupe Corral
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $200,124
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-05 → 2025-04-08

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10857175

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10857175, UTEP FIRST Evaluation Core (5U54CA280922-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10857175. Licensed CC0.

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