The guiding frameworks of the Center for Equity in Engineering are servingness and the learning organization model.
Servingness means being “deliberately inclusive to ensure that our students and community members are not only represented, but overtly valued, in the university’s community, identity, and language” (UT Austin HSI transition committee). There are two components of a learning organization1:
- New ideas are developed in the institution(s)
- These ideas lead to changes in how the institution(s) operate
Combining these two frameworks, the Center seeks to foster new ideas about servingness that lead to changes in how UT Austin serves its students. Our overarching research question around building a learning organization focused on servingness is “What are the components of a servingness learning organization?”
Specific Research Questions | Center Initiative | |
What aspects of servingness can translate from HBCU and established MSI contexts to a new HSI context? How can different types of institutions collaborate to create a servingness learning organization that is mutually beneficial for all parties? | → | Site visits to Prairie View A&M and UT El Paso (complete) |
What role can a seed grants program play in establishing a learning organization? (manuscript in preparation) | → | Seed grants program (ongoing – learn more) |
How does the recognition of an awards program incentivize those who are conditioned to prioritize research to engage in BPE work? | → | Awards for students, staff, and faculty |
1Dill, David D. “Academic accountability and university adaptation: The architecture of an academic learning organization.” Higher education 38.2 (1999): 127-154.