Priorities & Milestones
2019-20 RESEARCH FUNDING & GRANTS
This represents all funds awarded from sponsored activity and grants from July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020.
- $48M Active grant funding
- 93 Active grants
- 26 National Science Foundation grants
- 13 State of Illinois Agency grants
- 13 U.S. Department of Education grants
- 32 Major foundation grants
Curriculum & Instruction (C&I)
2020-21 Milestones
- Designed Proseminar for all 1st and 2nd year doctoral students
- Launched Computer Science Education endorsement in Summer 2021
- Increased enrollment in C&I online Ed.M. program
- Implemented COVID-19 research grants
- Designed CS + Education bachelor's degree with two concentrations: Secondary Education and Learning Sciences
- Gained approval for Middle Grades Education certificate program
Priorities for 2021-22
- Implement newly designed Proseminar
- Review online master's degree program
- Recruit for CS + Education, BS
- Implement Provost’s Initiative on Instructional Needs by providing math support to licensure students
- Implement Provost’s Initiative on Innovative Programs: “Bringing Us Back Together” through community spaces, supporting multimodal writing and revising literacy courses
Educational Psychology (EPSY)
2020-21 Milestones
- Hired a new tenure-track faculty member in Counseling Psychology
- Gained final approval for our new M.S. program in Mental Health
- Underwent EPSY's first-ever external departmental review
- Maintained and protected the health of all our students, staff, and faculty
- Launched a suite of online courses in data analysis and visualization in R
Priorities for 2021-22
- Continue to strengthen the Developmental Sciences division with a new faculty hire
- Begin instruction of first cohort of master's students in Mental Health program
- Continue to seek external grant funding to expand research that impacts psychological science and education
- Work to establish a College of Education mental health research clinic
Special Education (SPED)
2020-21 Milestones
- Hired two new faculty members
- Increased student enrollment at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels
- Received funding from the Illinois State Board of Education to create the Illinois Center for Transition and Work
- Awarded multiple grants to support research related to COVID-19
- Faculty held key leadership positions in national organizations, received numerous external and internal awards, and were actively involved on national, state, and community boards and committees
Priorities for 2021-22
- Continue to provide support to students, staff, and faculty during this challenging time
- Redesign a few courses and fieldwork to provide students with innovative, high quality online instruction
- Continue to seek external grants that position us to impact the state and nation
Education Policy, Organization & Leadership (EPOL)
2020-21 Milestones
- Hired three tenure-track and two specialized faculty, leveraging strategic funding opportunities from campus
- Online master’s program ranked #3 overall and #1 for veterans by the USNWR
- Faculty held leadership positions in national organizations, received numerous external and internal awards, and were actively involved on national, state, and community boards and committees
- Graduate students recognized for their leadership and commitment to social justice as teachers and administrators in K-12 and higher education
- Online doctorate application yield during the pandemic nearly doubled the average rate
Priorities for 2021-22
- Redesign concentration areas to align students’ needs and faculty expertise to enhance the quality of graduate education
- Increase marketing efforts for recruitment in online Ed.M. programs
- Innovatively design online microcredential professional development courses across P-20 and adult education
- Create and sustain mentoring and community building opportunities for students and faculty